Studies on cytochrome c oxidase, XI. The amino-acid sequence of bovine heart polypeptide VIc

The complete primary structure of the cytoplasmically synthesized polypeptide VIc from beef heart cytochrome c oxidase was determined via isolation and sequencing of overlapping methionine and glutamic acid fragments. The protein consists of 73 amino acids (Mr 8 480). Through the protein contains, from residues 21 to 40, a hydrophobic sequence interrupted by one lysine it may not penetrate the membrane. A sequence of 33 amino acids highly homologous to the C-terminal part of VIc has been translated from a cDNA clone of a nuclear coded subunit of the enzyme from rat liver. The function of this component of the terminal oxidase is yet unknown.     

Studies on cytochrome c oxidase, VI. Polypeptide IV. the complete primary structure.

The complete primary structure of the cytoplasmically synthesized polypeptide IV from beef heart cytochrome oxidase was determined via isolation and sequencing of overlapping methionine, tryptophan, and arginine fragments. The protein consists of 147 amino acids (Mr 17153). It is characterized as a part of a membrane protein complex by a hydrophobic segment consisting of 19 residues. It is suggested that this segment contacts the lipids of the inner mitochondiral membrane. Additional specific contacts may result from pairwise formation of salt bridges between ionic groups of the protein and the phospholipids. The function of this component of the terminal oxidase is yet unknown.     

Ligatin: a peripheral membrane protein with covalently bound palmitic acid

The ligatin monomer is a polypeptide of Mr = 10,000 which is soluble in acidified chloroform:methanol, a characteristic similar to that of Folch-Lee proteolipid. The hydrophobicity of ligatin is also reflected by its ability to interpolate into the phosphatidylcholine bilayer as shown by a concentration-dependent change in membrane conductance. However, unlike other proteolipids the amino acid composition of ligatin is not enriched in hydrophobic amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, valine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan). Instead, the hydrophobic character of ligatin could be explained, at least in part, by the covalent association of fatty acids, 1.4-1.7 mol of palmitate/10,000 g of protein, as revealed by gas chromatography mass spectrographic analyses. The post-translational addition of fatty acid may therefore be the means by which ligatin acquires an affinity for membranes.     

Cloning and sequence analysis of membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase cDNA of the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The nucleotide sequence (1974 bp) of cDNA coding for membrane-bound alkaline phosphatases (m-ALP) of Bombyx mori was isolated. The cDNA clone contained an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide (547 amino acids), which contains a hydrophobic signal peptide of 36 amino acids and the mature protein of 511 amino acids (Mr = 56,163). We found a highly hydrophobic domain presumed to be a membrane anchoring region at the C-terminus. Comparing analysis between Bombyx m-ALP and mammalian and Escherichia coli ALPs suggested an evolutionary relationship of sharing a common ancestral gene.     

Studies on cytochrome c oxidase, XII. Isolation and primary structure of polypeptide VIb from bovine heart

The isolation and complete sequence analysis of the cytoplasmically synthesized polypeptide VIb from bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase is described. The protein is a stoichiometric constituent of the respiratory complex IV. Its primary structure is deduced from N-terminal sequencing and overlapping peptides obtained from tryptic cleavage and specific cleavage at arginyl and tryptophyl peptide bonds. The polypeptide chain consists of 84 amino acids from which a Mr of 9419 is derived. It has a relatively high content of histidine and proline and contains a single cysteine. A hydrophobic sequence of 20 amino acids points to a membrane-penetrating structure similar to that found in polypeptides I, II, III, IV and VIIIa, VIIIb, VIIIc of the bovine oxidase. The sequence of VIb is tissue-specific, it contributes to the formation of nuclear coded isoenzymes of cytochrome c oxidase. The protein thus may be involved in a tissue-specific regulation of cellular respiration.     

Structural gene of cytochrome b-562 from the cytochrome b-c1 complex of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

The structural gene coding for cytochrome b-562 isolated from the cytochrome b-c1 complex of Rhodobacter (Rhodopseudomonas) sphaeroides has been cloned. Its nucleotide sequence has been determined and the amino acid sequence was deduced therefrom. It consists of 157 amino acids (Mr 17,237) and contains four hydrophobic segments. The first 30 residues in the predicted amino acid sequence are the same as those determined for the NH2-terminal portion of purified cytochrome b-562. The amino acid composition is in accord with that determined for the pure protein. From the hydropathy profile and molar ratio of protoheme to cytochrome b-562, it is suggested that the structural and functional unit of the cytochrome is a two-heme cross-linked homodimer.     

Nucleotide sequence of the respiratory D-lactate dehydrogenase gene of Escherichia coli

The structural gene for the respiratory D-lactate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli, a membrane-bound flavoenzyme, has been subcloned from a 7 X 10(3)-base-pair chromosomal HindIII fragment containing the gene [Young, I. G., Jaworowski, A., and Poulis, M. (1982) Biochemistry 21, 2092-2095]. The complete nucleotide sequence of the 2340-base-pair PstI-SmaI subclone has been determined on both strands by the dideoxy chain termination method. A single large open reading frame is present in the nucleotide sequence. The reading frame is preceded by a good ribosome binding site and numerous possible promoter sequences, and is followed by a typical rho-independent termination sequence. The reading frame predicts that the D-lactate dehydrogenase polypeptide consists of 571 amino acids (including the initiating methionine residue) with Mr = 64613. The protein does not have a low overall polarity, nor does it contain unusually hydrophobic stretches. It appears to contain a short repeat which is homologous with the well characterized L-lactate dehydrogenases in the vicinity of the 'essential' cysteine residue. Apart from this, homology with other proteins of known sequence has not been detected.     

Pseudonajatoxin b: unusual amino acid sequence of a lethal neurotoxin from the venom of the Australian common brown snake, Pseudonaja textilis

The complete amino acid sequence of pseudonajatoxin b, a basic neurotoxin from the venom of the Australian common brown snake, Pseudonaja textilis, was determined by automated Edman analysis of the reduced carboxymethylated polypeptide and of peptides derived by digestion of it with Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase. Pseudonajatoxin b consists of a single polypeptide chain of 71 amino acids with Mr 7762. The amino acid sequence showed considerable homology with postsynaptic long neurotoxins, but there were striking differences. Pseudonajatoxin b displayed relatively high lethality, LD50 15 micrograms/kg in mice.     

Nucleotide sequence of the Escherichia coli entE gene

The Escherichia coli entE gene encodes a polypeptide necessary in the latter stages of biosynthesis of the siderophore enterobactin. The entE gene and adjacent DNA were sequenced. The predicted EntE polypeptide consists of 536 amino acids and has a Mr of 58,299 and a net charge of -7.33. Genetic evidence combined with this and previous sequencing data indicate that the genes entCEB(G)A are transcribed as unit from a promoter upstream of entC.     

Nucleotide sequence of cDNA containing the complete coding sequence for human lysosomal glucocerebrosidase

Complementary DNA clones for human glucocerebrosidase were isolated from a human hepatoma library in lambda gt11. The complete nucleotide sequence of the 1805-base pair cDNA insert has been determined. In addition to 5' and 3' untranslated regions (51 and 206 base pairs, respectively), the cDNA insert contains 1548 base pairs that completely encode human glucocerebrosidase. All possible N-linked glycosylation sites are identified. Examination of the 19 amino acids of the leader polypeptide beginning with the ATG at position 52 revealed a hydrophobic core and a carboxyl-terminal glycine at the peptidase cleavage site, features consistent with the leader sequences described for other human translocated proteins. The Mr of 57,000 calculated from the 516 amino acids deduced from cDNA sequence is in good agreement with that identified by immunoprecipitation following in vitro translation of human placental mRNA.     

Genetic and molecular characterization of essential components of the Vibrio anguillarum plasmid-mediated iron-transport system

The iron-transport genes from the pJM1 plasmid of Vibrio anguillarum have been cloned and sequenced. Five open-reading frames have been identified, one of which encodes the outer membrane receptor for ferric anguibactin, OM2. This coding region corresponds to a protein of 726 amino acids with a Mr of 78,777. The protein has a hydrophobic signal sequence of 35 amino acids and a potential membrane-associated hydrophobic region at the carboxyl terminus. A 2.3-kilobase iron-regulated mRNA was transcribed from this region in vivo. The four other open-reading frames were shown to be involved in the regulation of OM2 expression and in iron transport by the use of insertion mutagenesis and complementation analysis. One of these open-reading frames, ORF3, encodes a 40-kDa polypeptide which, as deduced from the amino acid sequence and the hydropathy plot, is likely to be membrane-associated and together with OM2 may play a role in the transport of iron into the cell cytosol.     

Photoaffinity labelling of the TSH receptor on FRTL5 cells

An investigation of the properties of TSH receptors on FRTL5 cells using affinity labelling with a 125I-labelled photoactive derivative of TSH is described. Our studies suggest that FRTL5 cells contain 2 principal types of cell surface TSH receptors. One form, probably a precursor, consists of a single polypeptide chain (Mr 120,000) with an intrachain loop of amino acids formed by a disulphide bridge. The other type of receptor consists of a water-soluble A chain (Mr 55,000) linked to an amphiphilic B chain (Mr 35,000) by a disulphide bridge. The 2 chain structure is probably derived from the single chain 120,000 protein by enzymatic cleavage of peptide sequences within the loop of amino acids formed by the intrachain disulphide bridge.     

The amino acid sequence of equine alpha-lactalbumin

The amino acid sequence of equine alpha-lactalbumin has been determined with the aid of an automatic sequencer. The protein chain consists of 123 amino acids and has a Mr of 14218. Elucidation of the structure involved sequence determination of native protein (residues 1-32), cyanogen bromide fragments, and tryptic, chymotryptic and S. aureus V8 proteolytic peptides. Approximately 67% of the residues are identical with corresponding residues of bovine alpha-lactalbumin B, and there is close homology with alpha-lactalbumin of other species.     

Expression cloning of a receptor for murine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

Two cDNAs encoding the receptor for murine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were isolated from a CDM8 expression library of mouse myeloid leukemia NFS-60 cells, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Murine G-CSF receptor expressed in COS cells could bind G-CSF with an affinity and specificity similar to that of the native receptor expressed by mouse NFS-60 cells. The amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNAs has demonstrated that murine G-CSF receptor is an 812 amino acid polypeptide (Mr, 90,814) with a single transmembrane domain. The extracellular domain consists of 601 amino acids with a region of 220 amino acids that shows a remarkable similarity to rat prolactin receptor. The cytoplasmic domain of the G-CSF receptor shows a significant similarity with parts of the cytoplasmic domain of murine interleukin-4 receptor. A 3.7 kb mRNA coding for the G-CSF receptor could be detected in mouse myeloid leukemia NFS-60 and WEHI-3B D+ cells as well as in bone marrow cells.     

A membrane-associated precursor to poliovirus VPg identified by immunoprecipitation with antibodies directed against a synthetic heptapeptide

A synthetic heptapeptide corresponding to the C-terminal sequence of the poliovirus genome protein (VPg) has been linked to bovine serum albumin and used to raise antibodies in rabbits. These antibodies precipitate not only VPg but also at least two more virus-specific polypeptides. The smaller polypeptide, denoted P3-9 (12,000 daltons), has been mapped by Edman degradation and by fragmentation with cyanogen bromide and determined to be the N-terminal cleavage product of polypeptide P3-1b, a precursor to the RNa polymerase. P3-9 contains the sequence of the basic protein VPg (22 amino acids) at its C terminus. As predicted by the known RNA sequence of poliovirus, P3-9 also contains a hydrophobic region of 22 amino acids preceding VPg, an observation suggesting that P3-9 may be membrane-associated. This was confirmed by fractionation of infected cells in the presence or absence of detergent. We speculate that P3-9 may be the donor of VPg to RNA chains in the membrane-bound RNa replication complex.     

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the gene encoding the Deinococcus radiodurans surface protein, derived amino acid sequence, and complementary protein chemical studies.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the surface (hexagonally packed intermediate [HPI])-layer polypeptide of Deinococcus radiodurans Sark was determined and found to encode a polypeptide of 1,036 amino acids. Amino acid sequence analysis of about 30% of the residues revealed that the mature polypeptide consists of at least 978 amino acids. The N terminus was blocked to Edman degradation. The results of proteolytic modification of the HPI layer in situ and Mr estimations of the HPI polypeptide expressed in Escherichia coli indicated that there is a leader sequence. The N-terminal region contained a very high percentage (29%) of threonine and serine, including a cluster of nine consecutive serine or threonine residues, whereas a stretch near the C terminus was extremely rich in aromatic amino acids (29%). The protein contained at least two disulfide bridges, as well as tightly bound reducing sugars and fatty acids.     

cDNA sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of the precursor of the 37-kDa inner envelope membrane polypeptide from spinach chloroplasts. Its transit peptide contains an amphiphilic alpha-helix as the only detectable structural element

We present the nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence of a cDNA clone that encodes the entire precursor of the 37-kDa inner envelope membrane protein from spinach chloroplasts. The precursor protein consists of 344 amino acids (Mr 38,976). In vitro processing followed by radiosequence analysis of the in vitro transcribed and translated precursor protein revealed that its transit peptide consists of only 21 amino acid residues. The transit peptide has the potential to form an amphiphilic alpha-helix with a strong hydrophobic moment. It is speculated that this structural element represents an ancestral envelope-targeting domain. The in vitro synthesized precursor protein is directed to the chloroplasts and it is inserted into the envelope membrane in an ATP-dependent manner. The mature protein (323 amino acid residues, Mr 36,830) has a moderate hydrophobicity and contains only one membrane-spanning segment which is located at the C-terminus and possibly anchors the protein within the envelope membrane.