The binding of sodium dodecyl sulphate to bovine serum albumin at high binding ratios

The extent of binding of sodium dodecyl sulphate to bovine serum albumin at high binding ratios was investigated by gel filtration. The weight ratio of bound sodium dodecyl sulphate to bovine serum albumin increases with the NaCl concentration, and, except at low salt concentrations, with the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulphate. In the presence of 1.0g of sodium dodecyl sulphate/l, the binding ratio varied from 1.0 (at 0.04m-Na(+)) to 2.2 (at 0.44m-Na(+)). In the presence of 0.24m-Na(+), the binding ratio increased with sodium dodecyl sulphate concentration, from 0.9 (0.2g of sodium dodecyl sulphate/l) to 2.0 (5g of sodium dodecyl sulphate/l), at 26 degrees C, in a dilute sodium phosphate buffer. No significant dependence of the binding ratio upon temperature in the range 26-45 degrees C was observed. These results differ from those of Reynolds & Tanford (1970a) obtained by equilibrium dialysis.     

Effect of some antibiotics and biocides on plasmid transfer in Staphylococcus aureus

The effects of some antibiotics and biocides on the conjugative transfer of the Staphylococcus aureus gentamicin resistance plasmid pWG613 were investigated. Gentamicin and vancomycin were found to stimulate plasmid transfer frequency by 10- to 20-fold whereas methicillin and three inhibitors of protein synthesis each reduced it by various degrees. Most significantly, mupirocin inhibited plasmid transfer frequency by more than 1000-fold. All the biocides tested (cationic agents, sodium dodecyl sulphate and an organomercurial) reduced plasmid transfer.     

Effect of some antibiotics and biocides on plasmid transfer in Staphylococcus aureus

S.B. AL-MASAUDI, M.J. DAY AND A.D. RUSSELL. 1991. The effects of some antibiotics and biocides on the conjugative transfer of the Staphylococcus aureus gentamicin resistance plasmid pWG613 were investigated. Gentamicin and vancomycin were found to stimulate plasmid transfer frequency by 10- to 20-fold whereas methicillin and three inhibitors of protein synthesis each reduced it by various degrees. Most significantly, mupirocin inhibited plasmid transfer frequency by more than 1000-fold. All the biocides tested (cationic agents, sodium dodecyl sulphate and an organomercurial) reduced plasmid transfer.     

Effects of denaturing agents on spinach nitrate reductase

The effects of various denaturing agents (temperature, pH, urea, guanidine hydrochloride and sodium dodecyl sulphate) on the 3 enzymic activities of th     

The elimination of urease activity in Streptococcus faecium as evidence for plasmid-coded urease.

A strain of Streptococcus faecium from the sheep rumen showed spontaneous loss of urease activity when subcultured at the normal rumen temperature of 38 degrees C, although in mixed cultures in vivo or in vitro loss of urease was not apparent. The rate of loss of urease in pure cultures was increased at incubation temperatures above 38 degrees C, but loss was never complete. However, at temperatures below 38 degrees C loss was greater, and at 22 or 18 degrees C the urease was completely eliminated. Incubation with sodium dodecyl sulphate (0-002%) or ethidium bromide (2-5 X 10(-5)M) caused complete loss of urease activity. The urease activity was also eliminated when the streptococcus was grown aerobically, and this loss of activity was irreversible. It is suggested that the urease activity is controlled by a plasmid gene and that aeration, low growth temperature and chemical agents 'cure' the streptococcus of the plasmid. Attempts to demonstrate the presence of covalently closed circular extrachromosomal DNA by caesium chloride-ethidium bromide equilibrium density-gradient centrifugation were unsuccessful.     

Wheat-germ aspartate transcarbamoylase. The effect of ligands on the inactivation of the enzyme by trypsin and denaturing agents

In the absence of added ligands aspartate transcarbamoylase (EC 2.1.3.2) from wheat germ is inactivated fairly rapidly by trypsin, by heat (60 degrees C), by highly alkaline conditions (pH11.3) and by sodium dodecyl sulphate. Addition of UMP alone, at low concentrations, decreases the rate of inactivation by each of these agents significantly. Carbamoyl phosphate alone does not alter the rate of inactivation by trypsin and by the detergent, but it antagonizes the effect of UMP in protecting the enzyme against these agents. These results have been interpreted to mean that two conformational states are reversibly accessible to the enzyme, namely an easily inactivated state favoured in the presence of carbamoyl phosphate and a more resistant state favoured in the presence of UMP. In the absence of ligands the enzyme is in the easily inactivated conformation. At very high concentrations l-aspartate also protects the enzyme but to a smaller extent than UMP. Some implications of these results are discussed.     

Effects of magnesium sulphate following spinal cord injury in rats

Neutrophil infiltration has been implicated in the secondary destructive pathomechanisms after initial mechanical injury to the spinal cord. Tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity has been shown to be an exclusive indicator of the extent of post-traumatic neutrophil infiltration. We have studied the effect of magnesium sulphate on MPO activity after spinal cord injury in rats. Rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups. Group 1 was control and normal spinal cord samples were obtained after clinical examination. Forty g-cm contusion injury was introduced to Group 2. Group 3 was vehicle, 1 ml of physiological saline was injected post-trauma. Group 4 was given 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) immediately after trauma. Group 5 was given 600 mg/kg magnesium sulphate immediately after trauma. Animals were examined by inclined plane technique of Rivlin and Tator 24 h after trauma. Spinal cord samples obtained following clinical evaluations. Magnesium sulphate treatment improved early functional scores and decreased MPO activity. These findings revealed that magnesium sulphate treatment possesses neuroprotection on early clinical results and on neutrophil infiltration after acute contusion injury to the rat spinal cord.     

The activity of polymyxins against dense populations of Escherichia coli.

The activities of polymyxin B sulphate, colistin (polymyxin E) sulphate and their sulphomethyl derivatives were compared by continuous turbidimetric monitoring of dense cultures of an Escherichia coli strain exposed to these agents. Judged by the concentration of antibiotic which caused a rapid fall in opacity of the culture, polymyxin B sulphate and colistin sulphate had similar activities, but the sulphomethyl compounds differed considerably: sulphomyxin sodium induced lysis of the culture at a concentration four times that of the parent compound, whereas colistin sulphomethate sodium induced a delayed fall in opacity consistent with recruitment of activity as the inactive sulphomethyl derivative was broken down to the parent compound. Durign overnight incubation, regrowth of cultures which had initially succumbed to polymyxin action occurred, apparently due to the selection of phenotypically resistant variants from within the population. In this way cultures could easily be adapted to growth in concentrations of antibiotic well above the conventionally-determined minimum inhibitory concentration. The comparative ease of adaptation was in the order: colistin sulphomethate greater than sulphomyxin greater than colistin sulphate greater than polymyxin B sulphate.     

Kinetic properties of 7 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli 080

Results on the kinetics of 7 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 7 alpha-HSDH showed that this enzyme could oxidize all bile acids having an -OH group at the C-7 position. Lineweaver-Burk plots showed Michaelis constant (Km) values of 0.83 and 0.12 mM for cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, respectively. The effect of enzyme concentration on the reaction velocity showed a constant increase in the enzyme activity with increase in enzyme-protein concentration. 7 alpha-HSDH was activated by Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mn2+ ions and by reducing agents having a thiol group (dithiothreitol, 2-mercaptoethanol). Co2+, Hg2+, Fe3+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Ba2+, and Cu2+ ions, chelating agents (potassium oxalate, heparin, EDTA) oxidizing agents (sodium perchlorate, sodium periodate, sodium persulphate), and detergents (Tween 20, Tween 40, Tween 80, Triton X-100, sodium lauryl sulphate) were inhibitory to 7 alpha-HSDH activity.     

Multiple proteins related to the soluble galactose-binding animal lectin revealed by a monoclonal anti-lectin antibody.

An enzyme catalysing the O-methylation of isobutyraldoxime by S-adenosyl-L-methionine was isolated from Pseudomonas sp. N.C.I.B. 11652. The enzyme was purified 220-fold by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and chromatography on calcium phosphate gel. Homogeneity of the enzyme preparation was confirmed by isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel and sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The enzyme showed a narrow pH optimum at 10.25, required thiol-protecting agents for activity and was rapidly denatured at temperatures above 35 degrees C. The Km values for isobutyraldoxime and S-adenosyl-L-methionine were respectively 0.24 mM and 0.15 mM. Studies on substrate specificity indicated that attack was mainly restricted to oximes of C4-C6 aldehydes, with preference being shown for those with branching in the 2- or 3-position. Ketoximes were not substrates for the enzyme. Gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 gave an Mr of 84 000 for the intact enzyme, and sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis indicated an Mr of 37 500, suggesting the presence of two subunits in the intact enzyme. S-Adenosylhomocysteine was a powerful competitive inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine, with a Ki of 0.027 mM. The enzyme was also susceptible to inhibition by thiol-blocking reagents and heavy-metal ions. Mg2+ was not required for maximum activity.     

Recovery of canola meal proteins by precipitation

Recovery of rapeseed proteins from defatted canola meal by precipitation was investigated. The ability of different precipitating agents, such as sodium hexametaphosphate (HMP), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), ammonium sulphate, and isoelectric precipitation using HCl, were evaluated based on the yield and mean size of protein aggregates. Almost 94% of dissolved protein was precipitated in the presence of 2.7M ammonium sulphate, while the largest mean protein particle size (32 mum) was obtained in the presence of HMP at pH 3.3.     

Enterotoxin-like activity produced by Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from patients and healthy controls in Algeria

Abstract In our earlier studies, hexammine ruthenium (III) chloride (HRC) was found to eliminate the pBR322 plasmid from E. coli HB101 with 100% frequency. However, this plasmid was not eliminated by other known curing agents, such as acridine orange, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), rifampicin or temperature conditions. In our present communication, we report the sensitivity of a variant of plasmid pBR322 to curing agents which were not effective on the parent plasmid.     

Increased susceptibility of injured spores of Bacillus subtilis to cationic and other stressing agents

Sublethally heated spores of Bacillus subtilis NCTC 8236 were susceptible to posttreatment concentrations in agar of polymyxin B sulphate, sodium hydroxide, cetylpyridinium chloride and sodium lauryl sulphate that did not prevent colony formation to untreated spores. The non-ionic surfactants polysorbates 20 and 80 were not inhibitory when used at high concentrations against both heated and unheated spores. The method has been developed for detecting sublethal injury in biocide-exposed spores, since iodine-treated spores became highly susceptible to polymyxin contained in recovery agar.     

The interaction between ribonuclease A and surfactants

1. U.v. difference spectra show that the anionic surfactant sodium n-dodecyl sulphate unfolds ribonuclease A at pH7.3 and 10.3, but that the cationic surfactant n-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide does not affect the conformation of the enzyme. 2. Equilibrium-dialysis experiments show that sodium n-dodecyl sulphate binds to ribonuclease A, but no binding of n-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide could be detected at pH7.3. 3. The enzymic activity of ribonuclease A is unaffected by n-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide up to a concentration of 0.03m at 25 degrees C. 4. Ultracentrifuge studies support the conclusion that n-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide does not interact significantly with ribonuclease A. 5. The enthalpy change as measured by microcalorimetry on binding of sodium n-dodecyl sulphate to ribonuclease A is consistent with an exothermic enthalpy of binding occurring simultaneously with an endothermic enthalpy of chain unfolding.     

Paramorphogenic and genotoxic activity of Triton X-100 and sodium dodecyl sulphate in Aspergillus nidulans

The genotoxic activities of Triton X-100 and sodium dodecyl sulphate in Aspergillus nidulans were assessed in order to evaluate their relative merits as paramorphogenic agents. Triton X-100 was found to be ideally suited to this purpose due to its efficient paramorphogenic effect and lack of genotoxicity. Sodium dodecyl sulphate was considered unsuitable since it reduced viability and was inconsistent in its paramorphogenic action.     

Activation of an alkaline proteinase from fish skeletal muscle by fatty acids and sodium dodecyl sulphate

1. Fish skeletal muscle contains an alkaline thiol proteinase with a temperature optimum of 60 degrees C and undetectable activity below 50 degrees C. 2. The present study shows that fatty acids and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) shifted the temperature-activity curve of the enzyme toward the lower temperature side. 3. All unsaturated fatty acids tested strongly stimulated proteolytic activity at 37 degrees C, whereas myristic acid was the only saturated fatty acid that produced an important degree of activation. 4. These effects could be observed at millimolar concentrations of the reagents.     

Minactivin: a human monocyte product which specifically inactivates urokinase-type plasminogen activators

Culture supernatants from monolayers of human peripheral monocytes strongly inhibited colorimetric assays of urokinase in which plasmin was measured by esterolysis. This inhibitory activity of monocyte culture supernatant was enhanced after culture with muramyl dipeptide. Inhibition was specific for plasminogen activators of Mr 52 000 and 36 000, as shown by three methods: (1) inhibition of plasminogen-dependent fibrinolysis; (2) inhibition at the level of plasminogen activation in a colorimetric assay; (3) the irreversible loss of plasminogen-activating activity, as evidenced by electrophoresis, after preincubation with culture media. The factor responsible for this inactivation (which we propose to call minactivin) had an apparent Mr of 66 000 on Sephacryl S300 gel chromatography and interacted with enzyme in a biphasic manner: a rapid partial inhibition (reversible by sodium dodecyl sulphate) was followed by slow inactivation (irreversible by sodium dodecyl sulphate). It is proposed that secretion of minactivin by monocytes may contribute to regulation of extracellular proteolysis at sites of tissue injury.     

The effect of chemical agents on the turnover of the bound phosphate associated with the sodium-and-potassium ion-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase in ox brain microsomes

1. The effect of chemical agents on the turnover of the Na(+)-dependent bound phosphate and the simultaneous Na(+)-dependent hydrolysis of ATP by a membrane preparation from ox brain was studied at an ATP/protein ratio of 12.5pmol/mug. 2. The agents were added immediately after phosphorylation of the preparation in a medium containing 50mm-sodium chloride and 2.5mum-[gamma-(32)P]ATP. 3. Concentrations of sodium chloride above 150mm, calcium chloride to 20mm and suramin to 1.4mm inhibited both phosphorylation and dephosphorylation and concomitantly slowed ATP hydrolysis. At 125mm-sodium chloride dephosphorylation and hydrolysis were slightly slowed without affecting phosphorylation. 4. Ethanol to 1.6m concentration inhibited dephosphorylation without affecting phosphorylation; the bound phosphate was increased and ATP hydrolysis slowed. 5. Ouabain to 4mm concentration partially inhibited ATP hydrolysis and caused a transient (1-2s) rise in bound phosphate followed by a rapid fall to a lower plateau value, which eventually declined to zero by the time ATP hydrolysis was complete. 6. Of the detergents examined Lubrol W, Triton X-100 and sodium deoxycholate had no significant effect on turnover. Sodium dodecyl sulphate and sodium decyl sulphate to 3.5mm and 20mm respectively completely inhibited turnover and ATP hydrolysis and stabilized the bound phosphate.     

Vascular reactivity and baroreflex function during hyperthermia in conscious rats

The hemodynamic responses to vasoconstrictor agents are blunted during heating in anesthetized rats. It is unknown whether reflex neural responses to these agents are also altered during hyperthermia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hyperthermia on the hemodynamic and baroreflex-mediated sympathetic neural responses to vasoactive agents in conscious, unrestrained rats. The splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity (SpNA) and systemic and regional hemodynamic responses to injections of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside were measured during normothermia (37 degrees C) and hyperthermia (41.5 degrees C). The hemodynamic responses to phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside were blunted with heating, whereas the SpNA responses to both agents were augmented or unchanged. At 41.5 degrees C, the baroreflex curves relating heart rate (HR) and SpNA to mean arterial blood pressure were shifted to the right. The operating range and gain of the blood pressure (BP)-HR reflex were significantly reduced during heating, whereas the operating range of the BP-SpNA reflex was augmented at 41.5 degrees C. These results indicate that heating alters the cardiovascular and sympathetic neural responses to vasoactive agents in vivo. Furthermore, the data suggest that heating differentially affects arterial baroreflex control of HR and SpNA, shifting both curves toward higher BP values but selectively attenuating baroreflex control of HR.     

Protein chromatography on adsorbents with hydrophobic and ionic groups. Chromatography of dodecyl sulphate-solubilized proteins of the human erythrocyte membrane on N-(3-carboxypropionyl)aminodecyl-sepharose.

Human erythrocyte 'ghosts' were solubilized in 0.5% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulphate at pH 4.0(I = 0.012 mol/I). At a loading of 1-2 mg of protein/ml of column volume, all of membrane proteins were adsorbed to a column of CPAD [N-(3-carboxypropionyl)-aminodecyl]-Sepharose at pH 4.0 (I = 0-012 mol/1) and room temperature (22 degrees C). Many proteins were subsequently desorbed by raising the pH or by including sodium dodecyl sulphate continuously in the eluting buffer. Experiments with a series of adsorbents homologous with CPAD-Sepharose, in which the length of the hydrocarbon chain was varied, provided strong evidence of hydrophobic interactions, in addition to ionic interactions, in the binding of these proteins to CPAD-Sepharose. Elution with increasing-pH gradients at different concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulphate showed that glycophorin (the major sialoglycoprotein) was eluted in the void volume, at recoveries close to 100%, when the detergent concentration was greater than or equal to 0.3% (w/v). Protein E, the major protein, was desorbed late in the pH gradient even at a high (0.5%, w/v) concentration of the detergent, and was always incompletely desorbed, the maximum recovery recorded being 40%. Spectrin (the high-molecular-weight polypeptide pair) did not behave in a well-defined manner, and was found widely distributed among the effluent fractions under all the conditions that were tested.