Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of thiamine phosphate esters at subpicomole levels

Separation and determination of thiamine phosphate esters were achieved by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (hplc) after conversion to corresponding thiochrome esters. The elution order was thiochrome triphosphate, thiochrome pyrophosphate, and thiochrome monophosphate by a system composed of 25 mm potassium phosphate buffer (pH 8.4) and 2.5% N,N-dimethylformamide. The minimum amount reproducibly detected was 0.05 pmol for each thiochrome phosphate. Thiamine phosphate esters in rat tissues were successfully determined by the reversed-phase hplc after alkaline oxidation of the tissue extract, which resulted in a good agreement in their contents to those obtained by the straight-phase hplc previously reported.     

Basal and ATP-stimulated phosphoinositol metabolism in fusing rat skeletal muscle cells in culture

A considerable rise in inositol phosphates was observed at the beginning of myoblast fusion. Extracellular ATP, through P2-purinergic receptors, induced inositol phosphate accumulation before and after fusion; however, no effect of ATP on phosphoinositol levels could be detected during the period of fusion. The possibility of ATP being a fusion signal is discussed.     

Basic fibroblast growth factor does not initiate mitogenic signalling via phosphoinositide hydrolysis in PC12 cells

Basic fibroblast growth factor (b FGF) was found to be equally potent mitogen as compared to alpha-thrombin to reinitiate DNA synthesis in quiescent PC12 cells. Whereas thrombin was found to be an activator of phospholipase C as judged by a rapid increase in the formation of inositol triphosphate, inositol biphosphate and a massive accumulation of inositol phosphate when 20 mM LiCl was present as an inhibitor of inositol mono phosphatases, basic FGF failed to induce the breakdown of the polyphosphoinositides in quiescent PC12 cells to any appreciable levels, however, a simultaneous increase in the level of diacylglycerol was observed. b FGF also failed to stimulate protein kinase C which is believed to be activated by diacylglycerol. It is therefore concluded that bFGF receptor mediated 'signalling is not via phospholipase C activation and bFGF's early mitogenic responses and DNA synthesis are initiated independent of the inositol lipids and protein kinase C activation. Thus bFGF must have its own unique signal transducing mechanism independent of inositol pathways.     

Analysis of Dictyostelium discoideum Inositol Pyrophosphate Metabolism by Gel Electrophoresis

The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum was instrumental in the discovery and early characterization of inositol pyrophosphates, a class of molecules possessing highly-energetic pyrophosphate bonds. Inositol pyrophosphates regulate diverse biological processes and are attracting attention due to their ability to control energy metabolism and insulin signalling. However, inositol pyrophosphate research has been hampered by the lack of simple experimental procedures to study them. The recent development of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and simple staining to resolve and detect inositol pyrophosphate species has opened new investigative possibilities. This technology is now commonly applied to study in vitro enzymatic reactions. Here we employ PAGE technology to characterize the D. discoideum inositol pyrophosphate metabolism. Surprisingly, only three major bands are detectable after resolving acidic extract on PAGE. We have demonstrated that these three bands correspond to inositol hexakisphosphate (IP₆ or Phytic acid) and its derivative inositol pyrophosphates, IP₇ and IP₈. Biochemical analyses and genetic evidence were used to establish the genuine inositol phosphate nature of these bands. We also identified IP₉ in D. discoideum cells, a molecule so far detected only from in vitro biochemical reactions. Furthermore, we discovered that this amoeba possesses three different inositol pentakisphosphates (IP₅) isomers, which are largely metabolised to inositol pyrophosphates. Comparison of PAGE with traditional Sax-HPLC revealed an underestimation of the cellular abundance of inositol pyrophosphates by traditional methods. In fact our study revealed much higher levels of inositol pyrophosphates in D. discoideum in the vegetative state than previously detected. A three-fold increase in IP₈ was observed during development of D. discoideum a value lower that previously reported. Analysis of inositol pyrophosphate metabolism using ip6k null amoeba revealed the absence of developmentally-induced synthesis of inositol pyrophosphates, suggesting that the alternative class of enzyme responsible for pyrophosphate synthesis, PP-IP₅K, doesn’t’ play a major role in the IP₈ developmental increase.     

Phytate metabolism in Petunia pollen

Phytic acid has been detected in the anthers of young flower buds of Petunia hybrida, the amount increasing slowly as the flower develops until anther dehydration, when there was a more rapid increase in phytic acid content. In mature pollen, the phytic acid content was found to be 2.0 % by weight, of which 90 % was water soluble, while free myo-inositol was a relatively low 0.06 % by weight. Breakdown of phytic acid was initiated soon after pollen germination began, and its degradation products, myo-inositol and inorganic phosphate, were rapidly mobilized for phospholipid and pectin biosynthesis. Both are in high demand during pollen tube elongation. Utilization of myo-[2-³H]inositol for phospholipid biosynthesis was about five times that for pectin synthesis during the first few hours of pollen germination. The label in the phospholipid was identified as the myo-inositol moiety of phosphaltidylinositol, while the pectin material contained predominantly labelled arabinose, with smaller amounts of label in galacturonic acid, glucose and xylose. A chase experiment showed that the myo-inositol moiety of phosphatidylinositol was subject to a relatively rapid turnover, while the label in pectin was not. Labelling germinating pollen with [³²P]orthophosphate gave label in phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine of the phospholipids. Phosphatidylinositol contained 30 % of this label initially, a proportion which declined to 10 % over longer periods of germination.     

Production of staphylococcal enterotoxins C1 and C2 and thermonuclease throughout the growth cycle.

Synthesis of enterotoxins C1 and C2 and thermonuclease throughout the growth cycle was investigated with Staphylococcus aureus type strains FRI137 and FRI361 and S. aureus isolates M5 (C1) and L2 (C2) of animal origin. Both enterotoxins were produced during the exponential growth phase or at the beginning of the stationary phase. The minimal incubation time (7 to 12 h) and the lowest population (10(7) to 2 x 10(9) CFU/ml) associated with detectable enterotoxin (1 to 6.5 ng/ml) were related to the total amount of toxin produced after 24 h. Thermonuclease was detected in all samples whenever enterotoxins were detected. Furthermore, strain FRI137 produced thermonuclease earlier and at lower cell populations than it did enterotoxin C1. Patterns of enterotoxin and thermonuclease synthesis did not correlate. The concentration of toxins increased throughout the growth cycle, while the concentration of thermonuclease remained constant during the last hours of the growth cycle.     

Production of staphylococcal enterotoxins C1 and C2 and thermonuclease throughout the growth cycle

Synthesis of enterotoxins C1 and C2 and thermonuclease throughout the growth cycle was investigated with Staphylococcus aureus type strains FRI137 and FRI361 and S. aureus isolates M5 (C1) and L2 (C2) of animal origin. Both enterotoxins were produced during the exponential growth phase or at the beginning of the stationary phase. The minimal incubation time (7 to 12 h) and the lowest population (10(7) to 2 x 10(9) CFU/ml) associated with detectable enterotoxin (1 to 6.5 ng/ml) were related to the total amount of toxin produced after 24 h. Thermonuclease was detected in all samples whenever enterotoxins were detected. Furthermore, strain FRI137 produced thermonuclease earlier and at lower cell populations than it did enterotoxin C1. Patterns of enterotoxin and thermonuclease synthesis did not correlate. The concentration of toxins increased throughout the growth cycle, while the concentration of thermonuclease remained constant during the last hours of the growth cycle.     

Plant Desiccation and Protein Synthesis: III. Stability of Cytoplasmic RNA during Dehydration, and Its Synthesis on Rehydration of the Moss Tortula ruralis

RNA species from the haploid gametophyte generation of the moss Tortula ruralis exhibit typical eukaryotic characteristics. The major ribosomal and soluble RNA species are stable during drying and rehydration. RNA synthesis occurs rapidly on reintroduction of the moss to water and incorporation into high molecular weight RNA fractions was detected after 20 to 30 minutes of rehydration and into low molecular weight fractions after 30-60 minutes. Newly synthesized ribosomal RNA was detected in ribosomes within 2 hours of rehydration, but not in polysomes. It is apparent that the ribosomal and transfer RNA conserved during desiccation is involved in the re-establishment of early protein synthesis during subsequent rehydration and that, initially, there is no requirement for newly synthesized material.     

Phosphorylation in crested wheatgrass seeds at low water potentials

Crested wheatgrass seeds [Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult.] were tested for their ability to carry on phosphorylation reactions at low water potentials. Seeds were treated with ³²P labeled sodium phosphate and incubated in air having different controlled relative humidities. Ion exchange chromatography and radioassay of phosphate esters indicated that some phosphorylation occurred at a water potential of −880 atmospheres. Seeds did not incorporate ³²P in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, adenosine triphosphate, and uridine diphosphate hexose until they were moistened to a water potential of −130 atmospheres.     

Concurrent synthesis and degradation of alcohol dehydrogenase in elicitor-treated and wounded potato tubers

The accumulation of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in arachidonic acid-elicited potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber discs was studied. In accordance with our previous report of the accumulation of Adh mRNA beginning 2 hours after elicitor treatment (DP Matton, CP Constabel, N Brisson [1990] Plant Mol Biol 14: 775-783), immunoprecipitation of ADH from in vivo labeled discs indicated that ADH synthesis occurred as early as 12 hours after treatment. However, levels of ADH activity and protein, as shown by enzyme assay and immunoblot, did not rise in parallel but decreased during the first 24 hours of treatment. After 24 hours, ADH activity and protein began to increase, reaching a several-fold increase at 96 hours after elicitation. Water-treated control discs showed a similar though delayed and less pronounced pattern. These results imply a turnover of ADH following elicitor treatment of potato tuber discs. As shown by nondenaturing gel electrophoresis, the synthesis and degradation involved the same ADH isozyme.     

Effect of Heat Shock on Plant Growth and on Lipid and beta-Glucan Syntheses

Primary leaves of 8-day-old Phaseolus vulgaris plants dipped in water at 46.5 to 47.5 C for 2 minutes were found to have decreased synthesis of lipid and β-glucan compared to controls; UDP-glucose was used as substrate by cell-free preparations. As time elapsed, leaf growth, which was inhibited within the first 12 hours recovered in a subsequent 24-hour period. Synthesis of alkali-insoluble glucan by cell-free preparations was stimulated both in absolute and relative terms in the treated leaves at the later time period.     

Phosphoinositide hydrolysis by guanosine 5''-[gamma-thio]triphosphate-activated phospholipase C of turkey erythrocyte membranes.

Phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns), phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PtdIns4P) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] of turkey erythrocytes were labelled by using either [32P]Pi or [3H]inositol. Although there was little basal release of inositol phosphates from membranes purified from labelled cells, in the presence of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) the rate of accumulation of inositol bis-, tris- and tetrakis-phosphate (InsP2, InsP3 and InsP4) was increased 20-50-fold. The enhanced rate of accumulation of 3H-labelled inositol phosphates was linear for up to 20 min; owing to decreases in 32P specific radioactivity of phosphoinositides during incubation of membranes with unlabelled ATP, the accumulation of 32P-labelled inositol phosphates was linear for only 5 min. In the absence of ATP and a nucleotide-regenerating system, no InsP4 was formed, and the overall inositol phosphate response to GTP[S] was decreased. Analyses of phosphoinositides during incubation with ATP indicated that interconversions of PtdIns to PtdIns4P and PtdIns4P to PtdIns(4,5)P2 occurred to maintain PtdIns(4,5)P2 concentrations; GTP[S]-induced inositol phosphate formation was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in 32P- and 3H-labelled PtdIns, PtdIns4P and PtdIns(4,5)P2. In the absence of ATP, only GTP[S]-induced decreases in PtdIns(4,5)P2 occurred. Since inositol monophosphate was not formed under any condition, PtdIns is not a substrate for the phospholipase C. The production of InsP2 was decreased markedly, but not blocked, under conditions where Ins(1,4,5)P3 5-phosphomonoesterase activity in the preparation was inhibited. Thus the predominant substrate of the GTP[S]-activated phospholipase C of turkey erythrocyte membranes is PtdIns(4,5)P2. Ins(1,4,5)P3 was the major product of this reaction; only a small amount of Ins(1:2-cyclic, 4,5)P3 was released. The effects of ATP on inositol phosphate formation apparently involve the contributions of two phenomena. First, the P2-receptor agonist 2-methylthioadenosine triphosphate (2MeSATP) greatly increased inositol phosphate formation and decreased [3H]PtdIns4P and [3H]PtdIns(4,5)P2 in the presence of a low (0.1 microM) concentration of GTP[S]. ATP over the concentration range 0-100 microM produced effects in the presence of 0.1 microM-GTP[S] essentially identical with those observed with 2MeSATP, suggesting that the effects of low concentrations of ATP are also explained by a stimulation of P2-receptors. Higher concentrations of ATP also increase inositol phosphate formation, apparently by supporting the synthesis of substrate phospholipids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Inositol hexaphosphate guanosine diphosphate phosphotransferase from Phaseolus aureus

Inositol hexaphosphate guanosine diphosphate phosphotransferase which transfers phosphate from inositol hexaphosphate to guanosine diphosphate, synthesizing guanosine triphosphate, has been isolated from germinating mung bean. A purification of 86-fold with 33% recovery has been obtained and the protein was made homogeneous after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The MW of this enzyme was ca 92000. The optimal pH was 7·0 and Mn²⁺ was stimulatory. Inositol hexaphosphate was the most active donor of the phosphoryl group (P) to GDP. Inositol penta- or tetra-phosphate (mixed) was partially active, but inositol pentaphosphate produced in this reaction did not act further as phosphate donor. The transfer of P from inositol hexaphosphate was mediated through a phosphoprotein. Polyphosphate (poly Pi), pyrophosphate (PPi) and orthophosphate (Pi) were inactive in this reaction. ADP, CDP and UDP could not substitute for GDP, neither could dGDP nor GMP accept P from inositolphosphate. GTP inhibited the reaction, but ATP did not interfere with the reaction. The products have been shown to be [GMP- ³²P] and inositol pentaphosphate by several criteria. The reaction is practically irreversible. K_m values for GDP and inositol hexaphosphate were 1·1 × 10⁻⁴ M and 1·6 × 10⁻⁶ M respectively.     

Interconversion between glycogen and inositol in hibernating adults of a phytophagous ladybeetle,Epilachna vigintioctomaculata

The accumulation of inositol in hibernating adults of a phytophagous ladybeetle, Epilachna vigintioctomaculata, was demonstrated by a gas-chromatography and mass-spectrometry system. Inositol began to increase at the beginning of hibernation in early October and attained its maximum level of about 30 mg/g of body weight in January. It was also demonstrated that the source of inositol accumulated during hibernation is stored glycogen, and that interconversion between inositol and glycogen took place at the beginning and the end of hibernation.     

Cytokine profile in mice with enhanced or depressed immune response to sheep erythrocytes induced by immunomodulator of bacterial origin--purified staphylococcal toxoid

Influence of immunomodulator of bacterial origin - purified staphylococcal toxoid (PST) - on the synthesisof proinlammatory (IL-1beta, IL-6, TNFalpha, IFN-gamma) and anti-inflammatory (IL- 10) cytokines, as well as cytokines directing the immune response to Th1 (IL-12) or Th2 (IL-4) type was studied in mice. Serum cytokines levels as well as levels of cytokines produced by splenocytes spontaneously or after stimulation by phytohemagglutinin were measured 4 and 24 hours after inoculation of PST. It was shown that PST in wide spectrum of doses (15; 1.5; 0.15 BU per mouse) was able to enhance or suppress synthesis of cytokines. Effect was nonlinear and its direction was depended from cytokine, time interval passed before obtaining the sample and dose of PST. For example, 15 BU of PST enhanced whereas 0.15 BU of PST suppressed the IL-6 production 4 hours after inoculation. Decrease of IL-6 level in serum 24 hours after inoculation of PST was detected. Synthesis of several serum interleukins (IL-2, IL-10) did not changed 4 and 24 hours after inoculation irrespective from dose of PST. It was demonstrated that modulation of humoral immune response in vivo induced by PST did not associated with modulation of cytokine profile. For example, increase of number of cells secreting antibodies to sheep erythrocytes was registered both during increased synthesis of cytokines (4 hours, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-12) and during period of its depression (IL-6, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma), as well as during stable production of cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, IFN-gamma).     

Factors which affect the amount of inorganic phosphate, phosphorylcholine, and phosphorylethanolamine in xylem exudate of tomato plants

Phosphate in the xylem exudate of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants was 70 to 98% inorganic phosphate (Pi), 2 to 30% P-choline, and less than 1% P-ethanolamine. Upon adding ³²Pi to the nutrient, Pi in xylem exudate had the same specific activity within 4 hours. P-choline and P-ethanolamine reached the same specific activity only after 96 hours. The amount of Pi in xylem exudate was dependent on Pi concentration in the nutrient and decreased from 1700 to 170 micromolar when Pi in the nutrient decreased from 50 to 2 micromolar. The flux of 0.4 nmoles organic phosphate per minute per gram fresh weight root into the xylem exudate was not affected by the Pi concentration in the nutrient solution unless it was below 1 micromolar. During 7 days of Pi starvation, Pi in the xylem exudate decreased from 1400 to 130 micromolar while concentrations of the two phosphate esters remained unchanged.

The concentration of phosphate esters in the xylem exudate was increased by addition of choline or ethanolamine to the nutrient solution, but Pi remained unchanged. Upon adding [¹⁴C]choline to the nutrient, 10 times more [¹⁴C]P-choline than [¹⁴C]choline was in the xylem exudate and 85 to 90% of the ester phosphate was P-choline. When [¹⁴C]ethanolamine was added, [¹⁴C]P-ethanolamine and [¹⁴C]ethanolamine in the xylem sap were equal in amount. P-choline and P-ethanolamine accumulated in leaves of whole plants at the same time and the same proportion as observed for their flux into the xylem exudate. No relationship between the transport of P-choline and Pi in the xylem was established. Rather, the amount of choline in xylem exudate and its incorporation into phosphatidylcholine in the leaf suggest that the root is a site of synthesis of P-choline and P-ethanolamine for phospholipid synthesis in tomato leaves.

     

Phorbol esters inhibit inositol phosphate and diacylglycerol formation in proliferating HL60 cells. Relationship to differentiation

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induces the differentiation of the human promyelocytic cell line, HL60, towards adherent macrophage-like cells within 2 days. We have examined the early effects of PMA on inositol phosphates and on diacylglycerol production, two second messengers derived from inositol lipids. In proliferating HL60 cells, PMA induced a time- and concentration-dependent decrease in inositol phosphate levels. Maximal effects were seen after 1 h at 10 nM PMA. PMA also induced the translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosol to the membrane. Comparison between the differentiating effects of several phorbol esters and of 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol with their ability to inhibit inositol phosphate formation suggests that the two effects are correlated.     

Induction by Oxygen of Respiration and Phosphorylation of Anaerobically Grown Escherichia coli

The changes occurring in the respiratory enzymes of anaerobically grown Escherichia coli strain B and E. coli 15 T⁻A⁻U⁻bar during exposure to oxygen were studied. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidase activity reached its peak soon after O₂ exposure; cytochrome content and succinate oxidase activity increased more slowly, and these increases paralleled each other. The activities of isocitrate and malate dehydrogenases also increased, but the increase was less than that of the succinate and NADH oxidases; exposure to O₂ had no effect on the succinate and NADH dehydrogenase activities. On the other hand, the glycolytic activity decreased slowly after O₂ exposure. The incorporation of ³²P into acid-soluble organic phosphate esters paralleled the respiratory rate during the first 60 min after O₂ exposure, but continued to increase after the respiration reached a plateau. The sensitivity of ³²P incorporation to the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone also increased with time. The observed relationship between the development of the respiratory chain and the energy-conserving mechanism during O₂ exposure is discussed. Synthesis of the respiratory enzymes upon exposure to oxygen was dependent on concomitant protein and ribonucleic acid synthesis but not on deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis.     

Homoserine esterification in green plants

Extracts of phylogenetically diverse plans were surveyed for their ability to synthesize the following homoserine esters which are potential precursors for methionine and threonine synthesis in green plants: O-acetyl-, O-oxalyl-, O-succinyl-, O-malonyl-, and O-phosphohomoserine. Synthesis of O-acylhomoserine esters was detected only in Pisum sativum L. and Lathyrus sativus L. Extracts of P. sativum, a plant known to accumulate O-acetylhomoserine, catalyzed the specific synthesis of this ester from homoserine and acetyl-CoA. Extracts of L. sativus, a plant known to accumulate O-oxalylhomoserine, catalyzed the specific synthesis of this ester from homoserine and oxalyl-CoA. None of the other plants surveyed, including representatives of the green algae, horsetails, gymnosperms, and angiosperms, catalyzed the synthesis of any of the O-acylhomoserine esters studied. In contrast, synthesis of O-phosphohomoserine by the reaction catalyzed by homoserine kinase was demonstrated in extracts of all plants examined, including the two exceptional legumes.     

Photosynthesis, Carbohydrate Metabolism, and Export in Beta vulgaris L. and Phaseolus vulgaris L. during Square and Sinusoidal Light Regimes

Rates of photosynthesis, sucrose synthesis, starch accumulation and degradation were measured in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants under a square-wave light regime and under a sinusoidal regime that simulated the natural daylight period. Photosynthesis rate increased in a measured manner in direct proportion to the increasing light level. In contrast to this close correspondence between photosynthesis and light, a lag in photosynthesis rate was seen during the initial hour under square-wave illumination. The leaf appeared to be responding to limits set by carbon metabolism rather than by gas exchange or light reactions. Under the sinusoidal regime starch degradation occurred during the first and last 2 hours of the photoperiod, likely in response to photosynthesis rate rather than directly to light level. Starch broke down when photosynthesis was below a threshold rate and accumulated above this rate. Under square-wave illumination, accumulation of starch did not begin until irradiance was at full level for an hour or more and photosynthesis was at or near its maximum. Under a sinusoidal light regime, sucrose synthesis rate comprised carbon that was newly fixed throughout the day plus that from starch degradation at the beginning and end of the day. Synthesis of sucrose from recently fixed carbon increased with increasing net carbon fixation rate while its formation from degradation of starch decreased correspondingly. The complementary sources of carbon maintained a relatively steady rate of sucrose synthesis under the changing daytime irradiance.