A reconstituted Na++K+ pump in liposomes containing purified (Na++K+-ATPase from kidney medulla

Liposomes containing either purified or microsomal (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase preparations from lamb kidney medulla catalyzed ATP-dependent transport of Na⁺ and K⁺ with a ratio of approximately 3Na⁺ to 2K⁺, which was inhibited by ouabain. Similar results were obtained with liposomes containing a partially purified (Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase from cardiac muscle. This contrasts with an earlier report by Goldin and Tong (J. Biol. Chem. 249, 5907–5915, 1974), in which liposomes containing purified dog kidney (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase did not transport K⁺ but catalyzed ATP-dependent symport of Na⁺ and Cl^?. When purified by our procedure, dog kidney (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase showed some ability to transport K⁺ but the ratio of Na⁺ : K⁺ was 5 : 1.     

Preparation of 125I-calmodulin with retention of full biological activity: Its binding to human erythrocyte ghosts

Of several methods employed for preparing ¹²⁵I-calmodulin, only the glucose oxidase-lactoperoxidase system under controlled conditions produced an iodinated derivative which retained complete biological activity. Unlabeled calmodulin and ¹²⁵I-calmodulin stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from bovine brain interchangeably and both proteins displaced ¹²⁵I-calmodulin from high-affinity binding sites on human erythrocyte ghosts with equal effectiveness. This procedure yielded a labeling stoichiometry of 1.34. Scatchard plots of binding of ¹²⁵I-calmodulin to ghosts were consistent with the presence of a single class of high-affinity binding sites with the properties expected of (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase molecules. The binding showed positive cooperativity and occurred only in the presence of Ca²⁺. The maximum amount of binding seen in Scatchard plots corresponded to 4.1 × 10³ sites per ghost.     

Properties of 3H-cimetidine binding in rat brain membrane fractions

In an attempt to characterize the brain histamine H₂ receptor, experiments were undertaken to study the binding properties of (N-methyl-³H) -cimetidine, an H₂ receptor antagonist, in rat brain membranes. Using a centrifugation assay, ³H-cimetidine binding having a K_d of 0.40μM and a Bmax of 3.9 pmoles/mg protein was detected. Of fourteen anions and cations tested, one, Cu⁺⁺, dramatically increased specific ³H-cimetidine binding, the increase being due mainly to a change in Bmax. Studies of substrate specificity for ³H-cimetidine binding revealed that Cu⁺⁺, while not significantly affecting the potency of H₂ receptor agonists and antagonists, dramatically decreases the potency of H₁ receptor substances on the ³H-cimetidine binding site. In addition, both the relative and absolute potencies of various H₂ receptor agonistsv and antagonists in displacing the ligand in the presence of Cu⁺⁺ parallels their potencies in biological systems. These findings suggest that, under these conditions, ³H-cimetidine may be labelling a biologically relevant H₂ binding site in brain and that Cu⁺⁺ may regulate the substrate specificity for this site. The brain regional distribution and kinetic analysis of the binding suggest that it is not localized solely to the synaptic receptor for histamine, but may also be associated with histamine receptors at other neuronal, glial or vascular sites.     

Membrane (Na+ + K+)-ATPase of canine brain,heart and kidney. Tissue-dependent differences in kinetic properties and the influence of purification procedures

Effects of commonly used purification procedures on the yield and specific activity of (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase (Mg²⁺-dependent, Na⁺ + K⁺-activated ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3), the turnover number of the enzyme, and the kinetic parameters for the ATP-dependent ouabain-enzyme interaction were compared in canine brain, heart and kidney. Kinetic parameters were estimated using a graphical analysis of non-steady state kinetics. The protein recovery and the degree of increase in specific activity of (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase and the ratio between (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities during the successive treatments with deoxycholate, sodium iodide and glycerol were dependent on the source of the enzyme. A method which yields highly active (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase preparations from the cardiac tissue was not suitable for obtaining highly active enzyme preparations from other tissues. Apparent turnover numbers of the brain (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase preparations were not significantly affected by the sodium iodide treatment, but markedly decreased by deoxycholate or glycerol treatments. Similar glycerol treatment, however, failed to affect the apparent turnover number of cardiac enzyme preparations. Cerebral and cardiac enzyme preparations obtained by deoxycholate, sodium iodide and glycerol treatments had lower affinity for ouabain than renal enzyme preparations, primarily due to higher dissociation rate constants for the ouabain enzyme complex. This tissue-dependent difference in ouabain sensitivity seems to be an artifact of the purification procedure, since less purified cerebral or cardiac preparations had lower dissociation rate constants. Changes in apparent association rate constants were minimal during the purification procedure. These results indicate that the presently used purification procedures may alter.     

(Des-Histidine1) (Nϵ-phenylthiocarbamoyllysine12)-glucagon: Effects on glycogenolysis in perfused rat liver

(Des-Histidine¹) (N^?-phenylthiocarbamoyllysine¹²)-glucagon, synthesized by the one-step Edman degradation procedure is a competitive inhibitor of glucagon action in the rat liver plasma membrane adenylate cyclase system. However, in the perfused rat liver, the compound did not inhibit glucagon stimulated glycogenolysis even when used at a concentration 100-fold in excess of native glucagon. Instead, it showed a weak potency, but full agonist activity, stimulating liver glycogenolysis to 100% of the level obtained by glucagon. These results are discussed in terms of the possible mechanism(s) of glucagon action.     

Follitropin receptors in rat testis characterization with enzymatically 125I-labeled human follitropin

The interaction between enzymatically radioiodinated human follitropin and the follitropin receptors in testis homogenate was investigated in immature and adult rats. The ¹²⁵I-labeled human follitropin exhibited high binding activity, with specific binding of up to 17% in the presence of an excess of testis homogenate.Approx. 50% of the bound hormone could be eluted at pH 5, and the receptor purified tracer exhibited a 3.6-fold increase in binding activity when compared with the original tracer preparation. Quantitative analysis of equilibrium binding data was performed with corrections for the measured specific activity and maximum binding activity of the tracer hormone. The equilibrium association constants (K_a) determined at 24°C were not significantly different in immature and adult rat testis, and the mean value for K_a was 3.9 · 10⁹ M^?1. At 37°C, the K_a value obtained using immature rat testis was 1.3 · 10¹⁰ M^?1. The association of ¹²⁵I-labeled human follitropin with immature rat testis homogenate was time and temperature dependent. In the presence of an excess of unlabeled hormone, 30–60% of the preformed hormone · receptor complex was dissociated after 24 h incubation. A specific and sensitive radioligand-receptor assay for follitropin was developed using immature rat testis homogenate. The minimum detectable dose of purified human follitropin was 0.6 ng, and human urinary and pituitary follitropin, ovine follitropin and pregnant mare serum gonadotropin reacted in the assay with equivalent slopes. The potencies of highly purified pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and highly purified human follitropin were similar in the radioligand-receptor assay, consistent with the follitropin bioactivity of the equine gonadotropin.     

2-Methylacetoacetyl-coenzyme A reductase from Ascaris muscle: purification and properties

2-Methylacetoacetyl-CoA and 3-keto-2-methyl pentanoyl-CoA have been proposed to be intermediates in the synthesis of 2-methylbutyrate and 2-methylvalerate, respectively, by Ascaris lumbricoides muscle. These volatile acids are major fermentation products of Ascaris metabolism. 2-Methylacetoacetyl-CoA reductase has been purified 532-fold from Ascaris muscle to yield a homogeneous preparation which contained a single protein species as observed on discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The purification procedure utilized subcellular fractionation, affinity chromatography on NAD+ agarose, and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. A constant activity ratio for ethyl 2-methylacetoacetate and acetoacetyl-CoA was observed during purification, indicating that the same enzyme catalyzed both reactions. In addition, the purified protein catalyzed the NADH-dependent reduction of ethyl-3-keto-2-methyl pentanoate at essentially the same rate as it did ethyl 2-methylacetoacetate. The purified enzyme is a basic protein with an isoelectric point of 8.45 at 4 degrees C. The molecular weight of the native protein (Mr = 64,000 by exclusion chromatography) and the size of the subunit (Mr = 30,000 by dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis) indicate that the enzyme is composed of two subunits of the same molecular weight. Substrate-specificity studies, undertaken with the purified protein, demonstrated that the ethyl esters can substitute for the coenzyme A derivatives but this substitution results in an active substrate only when a branched 2-methyl group is present. The straight-chain ethyl ester is inactive. Kinetic constants for the substrates and nucleotides were determined. The role of the CoA esters as the physiological substrates for the Ascaris enzyme is substantiated. When assayed in the reductive direction with ethyl 2-methylacetoacetate as substrate, the activity of the purified enzyme was inhibited not only by coenzyme A as previously reported, but also by acetyl-CoA. The physiological implications of these inhibitions are discussed.     

Subunit structure of anthranilate synthase from Neurospora crassa: Preparation and characterization of a protease-free form

The multifunctional enzyme complex anthranilate synthase from Neurospora crassa has been purified to homogeneity by a new procedure which yields a stable preparation of the enzyme. Unlike earlier preparations of the enzyme, anthranilate synthase prepared by this technique is not degraded during incubation at 37 °C or during freeze-thaw treatment. Purified anthranilate synthase contains two subunits of M_r 84,000 (β-subunit) and 76,000 (α-subunit), which are shown, by partial proteolysis, to be unrelated in sequence. Immunoprecipitation studies demonstrate that freshly prepared crude extracts of Neurospora contain anthranilate synthase subunits identical in size with those of the purified enzyme. The β-subunit is shown to be the product of the trp1 gene, and the a-subunit, of the trp2 gene.     

Histamine H2-receptors in the gastric mucosa: role in acid secretion.

Currently, two major hypotheses dominate thinking about the role of histamine in the regulation of gastric acid secretion. Code has proposed that histamine is the final common mediator of secretagogue action on the parietal cell while Konturek and Grossman have suggested a multi-receptor control of the secretory process. Experimental results derived from the use of recently synthesized histamine H₂-receptor antagonists have been used by both groups to support their hypotheses. Paradoxically, these hypotheses depend on the presumed specificity of the H₂-antagonists in blocking histamine mediated acid secretion while the apparent lack of such secretagogue specificity of the H₂-antagonists is an important basis for the development of the hypotheses. Our review will analyze the experimental evidence which implicates the histamine H₂-receptor in the control of hydrogen ion secretion as well as evidence for and against receptor specificity in the gastric mucosa of histamine H₂-receptor antagonists.     

Limited proteolysis of liver and muscle aldolases: Effects of subtilisin,cathepsin B,and Staphylococcus aureus protease

Limited proteolysis of rabbit liver and muscle aldolases by subtilisin and cathepsin B results in decreased catalytic activity, associated with the release of acid-soluble peptides from the COOH terminus. Analysis of the sequence of these peptides confirms the COOH-terminal sequence of the muscle enzyme and provides new information on the COOH-terminal sequence of the liver enzyme. As previously reported for muscle aldolase, cathepsin B releases mainly dipeptides from the COOH terminus of liver aldolase. The COOH-terminal sequence of rabbit liver aldolase is SerThrGlnSerLeuPheThrAla SerTyrThrTyr. The Gln-Ser bond is resistant to Staphylococcus aureus protease, which hydrolyzes a GluSer bond at the corresponding positions in the muscle enzyme.     

Prostaglandin A1 and E1 inhibit the plating efficiency and proliferation of murine melanoma cells (Cloudman S-91) in soft agar

PGA₁ and PGE₁ reduced the plating efficiency and inhibited proliferation of Cloudman S-91 murine melanoma cells in a dose dependent manner, as assessed by their effects on colony formation in soft agar. PGF_2α did not reduce plating efficiency but was as effective as PGA₁ in raising cAMP and cGMP levels. This data suggests that the inhibition of Cloudman S-91 murine melanoma cell growth occurs via a non-cyclic nucleotide mechanism.     

Synthesis of 5-deoxy-d-xylo-hexose and 5-deoxy-l-arabino-hexose,and their conversion into adenine nucleosides

Anti-Markovnikov hydration of the olefinic bond of 5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-3-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-α- d-xylo-hex-5-enofuranose (4) and methyl 5,6-dideoxy-2,3-di-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-α-l-arabino-hex-5-enofuranoside (11) by the addition of iodine trifluoroacetate, followed by hydrogenation in the presence of a Raney nickel catalyst in ethanol containing triethylamine, afforded 5-deoxy-1,2-O-ísopropylidene-3-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-α-d-xylo-hexofuranose (6) and methyl 5-deoxy-2,3-di-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-α-d-arabino-hexofuranoside (14), respectively. 5-deoxy-d-xylo-hexose and 5-deoxy-l-arabino-hexose were prepared from 6 and 14, respectively, by photolytic O-detosylation and acid hydrolysis. Syntheses of 9-(5-deoxy-β-d-xylo-hexofuranosyl)-adenine and 9-(5-deoxy-α-l-arabino-hexofuranosyl)adenine are also described. Application of the sodium naphthalene procedure, for O-detosylation, to 11 is reported in connection with an alternative synthetic route to methyl 5-deoxy-α-l-arabino- hexofuranoside.     

Factors influencing the developmental capacity of Galleria larval epidermis

The nature of the cuticle secreted by integument from a day-1 penultimate instar larval Galleria when cultured in vivo in the abdomen of a last instar larva varied with the age of the host. When placed in a day-5 last instar larva, the implanted integument secreted a pupal cuticle at the time the host metamorphosed and became a pupa. However, when placed in a day-7 last instar larva the implant, from the same stage donor, secreted a larval cuticle at the time the host pupated. Experimental studies involving implantation of the integument for a 24 hr period, into various developmental stages of normal and ligated last instar larvae, pupae, and pharate adults, prior to placing it in a day-7 last instar larva suggest that a non-hormonal factor present in day-4 and -5 last instar larvae is important to initiate pupal syntheses.     

12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate stimulates release of arachidonic acid, prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2 alpha from TPA nonproliferative variants of 3T3 cells

The Proteinase Inhibitor Inducing Factor, PIIF, a pectic polysaccharide that induces synthesis and accumulation of proteinase inhibitor proteins in tomato and potato leaves, is an effective elicitor of the phytoalexin pisatin in pea pod tissues. The levels of pisatin induced by PIIF, and the time course of elicitation, are similar to those induced by chitosans, β-1,4 glucosamine polymers, which are potent elicitors of pisatin in pea pods. Similarly, the chitosans, found in both insect and fungal cell walls, are the most potent inducers yet found of proteinase inhibitor accumulation in excised tomato cotyledons. The similarity in the induction of synthesis of proteinase inhibitors in tomato cotyledons and of pisatin in pea pods by pectic polysaccharides and chitosans suggests that the two polysaccharide types may be triggering a similar fundamental system present in pea and tomato plants that regulates the expression of genes for natural protection systems.     

Effect of lipid alkyl chain perturbations on the assembly of bacteriophage PM2

The lipid-containing bacteriophage PM2 can produce infectious virus in cultures infected at temperatures up to 31.5 °C, but not at 34 °C. Its host, Pseudomonas BAL-31, grows at 34 °C and cultures infected at that temperature undergo lysis. Sucrose-gradient analysis shows that 34 °C lysates contain no PM2-like particles. Temperature-shift experiments establish that the thermally sensitive process is late in infection when virus assembly is taking place.Adamantanone, a small hydrophobic molecule that perturbs membrane hydrocarbon zones prevents the production of infective virus. Concentrations which prevent virus production have no effect on host-cell growth or stability of mature virions. Adamantanone exerts its effects late in the infectious cycle, and lysates made in its presence contain no PM2-like particles. These experiments, carried out at 25 °C, indicate that adamantanone prevents the assembly of stable PM2 virus.Spin-label studies suggest that the lipid alkyl chains of the host-cell membrane are in an “ordered” state at temperatures below about 33 °C and undergo a transition to a “disordered” state above that temperature. Furthermore, the addition of adamantanone perturbs the hydrocarbon zones, producing a greater degree of disorder even below 25 °C. Our findings suggest that the cell membrane can function and grow with the lipid alkyl chains in either the “ordered” or “disordered” state, but that the “ordered” state must be maintained for PM2 assembly to occur.     

Role of silicon in diatom metabolism : X. Polypeptide labelling patterns during the cell cycle, silicate starvation and recovery in Cylindrotheca fusiformis

The soluble polypeptides from Cylindrotheca fusiformis were labelled with [³⁵S]O₄²⁻ and resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. More than 600 polypeptides were detected upon a 26-day exposure to X-ray film. Analysis of the labelling pattern during the cell cycle show that labelling of at least 208 polypeptides changes; the majority, however, remain unchanged. Most of the changes occur in the beginning of the cell cycle and typically involve increases; those occurring in the second half of the cycle typically involve decreases. Light or its absence affects apparent protein turnover and the labelling rates of several polypeptides. Polypeptide labelling during the cell cycle was used as a reference to analyse the effect of silicate deprivation on diatom metabolism. In the absence of silicate, protein turnover increases: however, the addition of silicate counteracts but does not fully reverse this change. Silicate starvation affects the program of synthesis for several polypeptides, but in general the program of polypeptide labelling continues up to the S phase of the cell cycle. Addition of silicate to silicate-starved cells causes the appearance of four hitherto undetected polypeptides.     

Effects of prostaglandins E2, I2 and F2α, arachidonic acid and indomethacin on pressor responses to norepinephrine in conscious rats

The effects of prostaglandins E₂ (PGE₂), I₂ (PGI₂) and F₂α (PGF₂α), arachidonic acid and indomethacin on pressor responses to norepinephrine were examined in conscious rats. Intravenously infused PGE₂ (0.3, 1.25 μg/kg/min), PGI₂ (50, 100 ng/kg/min), PGF₂α (1.8, 5.4 μg/kg/min) and arachidonic acid (0.7, 1.4 mg/kg/min) did not change the basal blood pressure. Both PGE₂ and PGI₂ significantly attenuated pressor responses to norepinephrine, whereas PGF₂α significantly potentiated them. Arachidonic acid, a precursor of the prostaglandins (PGs), significantly attenuated pressor responses to norepinephrine. Since the attenuating effect of arachidonic acid was completely abolished by the pretreatment with indomethacin (5 mg/kg), arachidonic acid is thought to exert an effect through its conversion to PGs. On the contrary, intravenously injected indomethacin (0.2–5.0 mg/kg) facilitated pressor responses to norepinephrine in a dose-related manner without any direct effect on the basal blood pressure. These results suggest that endogenous PGs may participate in the regulation of blood pressure by modulating pressor responses to norepinephrine in conscious rats.     

Rapid efflux of Ca2+ from heart mitochondria in the presence of inorganic pyrophosphate

Inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) in the intracellular concentration range causes rapid efflux of Ca2+ from rat heart mitochondria oxidizing pyruvate + malate in a low Na+ medium. Half-maximal rates of Ca2+ efflux were given by 20 microM PPi. During and after PPi-stimulated Ca2+ efflux the mitochondria retain their structural integrity and complete respiratory control. Carboxyatractyloside inhibits PPi-stimulated Ca2+ efflux, indicating PPi must enter the matrix in order to promote Ca2+ efflux. Heart mitochondria have a much higher affinity for PPi uptake and PPi-induced Ca2+ efflux than liver mitochondria.     

H+ stoichiometry of sites 1 + 2 of the respiratory chain of normal and tumor mitochondria

The mechanistic stoichiometry for vectorial H+ ejection coupled to electron transport through energy-conserving segments 1 + 2 was determined on cyanide-inhibited mitochondria from rat liver, rat heart, and Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, and on rat liver mitoplasts with ferricyanide or ferricytochrome c as electron acceptors. K+ (+ valinomycin) and Ca2+ were employed as permeant cations. Three different methods were employed. In the first, known pulses of ferricyanide were added, and the total H+ ejected was determined with a glass electrode. Such measurements gave H+/2e-values exceeding 7.0 for both normal and tumor mitochondria with beta-hydroxybutyrate and other NAD-linked substrates; uptake of Ca2+ was also measured and gave the expected q+/2e-ratios. The second type of measurement was initiated by addition of ferricytochrome c to rat liver mitoplasts, with H+ ejection monitored with the glass electrode and ferricytochrome c reduction by dual-wavelength spectrophotometry; the H+/2e-ratios generally exceeded 7.0. In the third type of measurement, mixing and dilution artifacts were eliminated by oxidizing ferrocytochrome c in situ with a small amount of ferricyanide. H+/2e-ratios for rat liver mitoplasts oxidizing beta-hydroxybutyrate consistently approached or exceeded 7.5. Over 150 measurements made under a variety of conditions gave observed H+/2e-ejection ratios significantly exceeding 7.0, which correlated closely with H+/2e-measurements on sites 1 + 2 + 3, sites 2 + 3, and site 2. Factors leading to the deficit of the observed ratios from the integral value 8 for sites 1 + 2 were discussed.