Binding of a spin-labeled phenylalanine analog to sickle hemoglobin: EPR and NMR studies

We have synthesized a spin-label analog of phenylalanine as a competitive inhibitor probe of the sickle hemoglobin aggregation process. Sickle hemoglobin gelation measurements indicate that the spin-label phenylalanine analog is a potent inhibitor of deoxy sickle hemoglobin aggregation. We have also used spin label EPR and high-resolution proton NMR to study the interaction of the phenylalanine analog with hemoglobin, and find that the kinetic off-rate is comparable to, or slower than the hemoglobin rotational rate (i.e., greater than or equal to 10(8) s-1), and that at least one, and perhaps two significant localized interaction region(s) exist within a few angstroms of the beta chain N- and C-termini. Correlation with other known structural information suggests that the observed interaction sites may be relevant to the mechanism for inhibition of sickle hemoglobin aggregation.     

Binding of reduced and oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide to pig heart supernatant malate dehydrogenase.

The association reactions of NADH and NAD+ with dimeric pig heart supernatant malate dehydrogenase (s-MDH) have been measured at pH 6 and 8 by calorimetric and fluorescence methods, and the thermodynamic parameters describing these reactions have been evaluated. Coenzyme binding is associated with the uptake of 0.55 mol of H+/mol of NADH at pH 8 and 0.19 mol of H+ at pH 6. No significant effect of NAD+ binding on proton binding was observed. Increase in ionic strength strongly affects the free energies of binding of NAD+ and NADH. No cooperativity was observed in the enthalpy or free energy changes for binding of NAD+ or NADH. The differences in free energy of binding of NAD+ and NADH and the effect of pH on binding of NADH are entropy based. These effects are interpreted as reflecting a small number of interactions within the active site that are predominantly ionic.     

Characteristics of [3H]Hemicholinium-3 Binding to Rat Striatal Membranes: Evidence for Negative Cooperative Site-Site Interactions

The characteristics of [3H]hemicholinium-3 ([3H]HC-3) interactions with rat striatal membranes were investigated. Under the described assay conditions, [3H]-HC-3 binds with a saturable population of membrane binding sites having the following regional distribution: striatum much greater than hippocampus greater than or equal to cerebral cortex greater than cerebellum. The specific binding of [3H]HC-3 showed an obligatory requirement for NaCl; other halide salts of sodium or KCl failed to substitute for NaCl. The Scatchard transformation of saturation isotherm data generated a curvilinear plot with high- and low-affinity components of binding. The dissociation of [3H]HC-3 at infinite dilution was also multiexponential. The dissociation could, however, be accelerated if unlabeled HC-3 was included in the diluting buffer, and this increase in dissociation appeared to be dependent on the concentrations of unlabeled HC-3 used, with the maximal increase demonstrable at 100 nM. The dissociation was also dependent on the fractional saturation of binding sites with labeled HC-3, such that, at higher fractional saturation of binding sites, the overall dissociation was faster and the difference in the dissociation observed between "dilution only" and "dilution + unlabeled HC-3" was reduced. This occupancy-dependent change in dissociation could also be influenced by temperature and pH. Based on the results of these kinetic studies, the steady-state [3H]HC-3 binding data were analyzed for a homogeneous population of binding sites undergoing site-site interactions of the negative cooperative type. Such an analysis yielded a KD of 9.3 nM for the high-affinity state and a KD of 22.8 nM for the low-affinity state of binding sites, with a Bmax of 434 fmol/mg of protein. Competitive binding studies showed that unlabeled HC-3 was most potent in displacing [3H]HC-3, followed by choline. Other drugs known to have little influence on the synaptosomal sodium-dependent high-affinity choline uptake system (SDHACU) had no significant effect on [3H]HC-3 binding sites. Similarities in ionic dependencies, regional distributions, and pharmacological selectivities of [3H]HC-3 binding with synaptosomal SDHACU suggest that [3H]HC-3 selectively labels SDHACU sites located on presynaptic cholinergic neurons in rat CNS. We suggest that the two affinity states of [3H]HC-3 binding sites represent the different "functional" states of the SDHACU system. The binding of HC-3 (or choline) with the high-affinity state of the binding sites induces negative cooperative site-site interactions among the binding sites, resulting in the formation of a low-affinity binding state.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

8-Alkylaminoadenyl nucleotides as probes of dehydrogenase interactions with nucleotide analogs of different glycosyl conformation.

The nucleotides 8-amino-, 8-methylamino-, and 8-dimethylaminoadenylic acid have been synthesized and their preferred conformations about the glycosyl bond in qaueous solution have been determined by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Paramagnetic relaxation studies, nuclear Overhauser enhancement measurements, chemical shifts, and coupling constant comparisons indicate that their is rotation about the glycosyl bond and that preference for either the anti or syn conformation depends on the extent of alkyl substitution on the 8-amino group. The primary and secondary amines 8-amino- and 8-methylaminoadenylic acid adopt a perferential anti conformation about the glycosyl bond, while the tertiary amine 8-dimethylaminoadenylic acid exists predominantly in the syn form. These three analogs provide a system to study interactions of a dehydrogenase with coenzyme inhibitors having different glycosyl conformer populations. All three analogs are competitive inhibitors of NADH in reaction with chicken muscle lactate dehydrogenase, and the Ki values show little dependence on the nature of the amino substitution. This demonstrates that the distribution of conformations about the nucleotide glycosyl bond does not effect the competition of the nucleotide for lactate dehydrogenase apoenzyme. Several models for enzyme-coenzyme binding are discussed. The available data cannot distinguish whether the enzyme binds nucleotide in both the anti and syn conformations or in purely the anti conformation. However, at some stage of the enzyme-coenzyme interaction, there appears to be a strong stabilization of the nucleotide in the anti conformation about the glycosyl bond.     

Orientation and rotational dynamics of spin-labeled phalloidin bound to actin in muscle fibers

We have used electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) to investigate the orientational distribution of actin in thin filaments of glycerinated muscle fibers in rigor, relaxation, and contraction. A spin-labeled derivative of a mushroom toxin, phalloidin (PHSL), was bound to actin in the muscle fibers (PHSL–fibers). The EPR spectrum of unoriented PHSL–labeled myofibrils consisted of three sharp lines with a splitting between the outer extrema (2T) of 42.8 ± 0.1 G, indicating that the spin labels undergo restricted nanosecond rotational motion within an estimated halfcone angle of 76°. When the PHSL–fiber bundle was oriented parallel to the magnetic field, the splitting between the zero-crossing points (2T′) was 42.7 ± 0.1 G. When the fiber bundle was perpendicular to the magnetic field, 2T′ decreased to 34.5 ± 0.2 G. This anisotropy shows that the motion of the probe is restricted in orientation by its binding site on actin, so that the EPR spectrum of PHSL–fiber bundles would be sensitive to small changes in the mean axial orientation of the PHSL–actin interface. No differences in the EPR spectra were observed in fibers during rigor, relaxation, or contraction, indicating that the mean axial orientation of the PHSL binding site changes by less than 5°, and that the amplitude of nanosecond probe rotational motion, which should be quite sensitive to the local environment of the phalloidin, changes by no more than 1°. These results rule out large changes in the overall geometry of the actin filament and in the local conformation of actin near the phalloidin binding site during the generation of isometric tension in muscle fibers. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Kinetic measurements of binding of galectin 3 to a laminin substratum

Galectin 3, a -galactoside binding protein, contains a C-terminal carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) and an N-terminal segment including multiple repeats of a proline/tyrosine/glycine-rich motif. Previous work has shown that galectin 3 but not the isolated CRD binds to laminin, a multivalent ligand, with positive cooperativity indicating the formation of multiple interactions although the lectin in solution is monomeric. Using surface plasmon resonance, we find that hamster galectin 3 at sub-µmolar concentrations or its isolated CRD at all concentrations binds to a laminin substratum with similar association (k_ass; 10 – 30 000 M^–1 S^–1) and dissociation (k_diss; 0.2 – 0.3 S ₁ ^–1 ) rates and weak affinity (Ka; 1 - 3 X 10⁵ M^–1). At higher concentrations of galectin 3 the off rate decreases ten fold leading to increased affinity. Ligation of an N-terminal epitope of galectin 3 with a monoclonal Fab fragment increases association and dissociation rates ten fold. A recombinant protein obtained by deletion of the first 93 N-terminal residues binds to laminin with positive cooperativity and a slowly dissociating fraction (K_diss; 0.002 S^–1) accummulates on the substratum. The data suggest that homophilic interactions between CRD as well as N terminal domains are implicated in galectin 3 aggregation on the substratum leading to positive binding cooperativity.     

Characterization of interactions of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase with its binding protein in the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Unlike pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes (PDCs) from prokaryotes, PDCs from higher eukaryotes have an additional structural component, E3-binding protein (BP), for binding of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) in the complex. Based on the 3D structure of the subcomplex of human (h) E3 with the di-domain (L3S1) of hBP, the amino acid residues (H348, D413, Y438, and R447) of hE3 for binding to hBP were substituted singly by alanine or other residues. These substitutions did not have large effects on hE3 activity when measured in its free form. However, when these hE3 mutants were reconstituted in the complex, the PDC activity was significantly reduced to 9% for Y438A, 20% for Y438H, and 18% for D413A. The binding of hE3 mutants with L3S1 determined by isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that the binding affinities of the Y438A, Y438H, and D413A mutants to L3S1 were severely reduced (1019-, 607-, and 402-fold, respectively). Unlike wild-type hE3 the binding of the Y438A mutant to L3S1 was accompanied by an unfavorable enthalpy change and a large positive entropy change. These results indicate that hE3-Y438 and hE3-D413 play important roles in binding of hE3 to hBP.     

The levels of nicotinamide nucleotides in liver microsomes and their possible significance to the function of hexose phosphate dehydrogenase.

The concentrations of NAD and NADP have been determined in detergent extracts of washed rat liver microsomes. Precautions were taken during the preparation of the microsomes to remove nicotinamide nucleotides from their external surface both by hydrolysis by nucleotide pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.9) and by washing them three times in 0.15 M-Tris/HCl, pH 8.0, to remove soluble proteins which bind these nucleotides. The mannose phosphatase was essentially completely latent, indicating that the microsomes were intact. Assuming these nucleotides are in the cisternae of the microsomes, the concentrations in the cisternae are 240 +/- 25 microM-NAD and 55 +/- 12 microM-NADP. These levels of nucleotides are compatible with both the glucose:NAD+ and the glucose 6-phosphate:NADP+ oxidoreductase activities of hexose phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.47). Since the organ and subcellular distributions of this dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphatase are similar, and Pi stimulates the glucose:NAD+ oxidoreductase activity, it is proposed that the combined action of these two enzymes leads to the reduction of both coenzymes in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. A modification of the colorimetric method of Nisselbaum & Green [(1969) Anal. Biochem. 27, 212-217] for the determination of NADP+ is described. Colour formation is linear with the concentration of NADP+ and is sensitive to less than 0.3 nmol of NADP+.     

Binding of ethylene analogs and cyclic olefins to a Triton X-100 extract from plants: Comparison with in vivo activities

The binding constants of various olefins were determined with a Triton X-100 extract of mung bean sprouts. The olefins tested included compounds that have been reported to induce an ethylene response in vivo as well as olefins reported to block the ethylene response. Both types of compounds were bound by the Triton X-100 extract, and the binding constants in vitro were usually considerably lower than those obtained in in vivo studies as measured by gas phase concentrations. Increased solubility due to Triton X-100 solution appears to be partly responsible. The in vitro binding order of compounds reported to induce an ethylene response was similar to their order of in vivo activity. Also, the compounds which gave an anti-ethylene response in vivo bound to the extract in approximately the same order as their in vivo effectiveness. These results suggest that binding of olefins is not the only factor necessary for an ethylene response. Although binding is necessary for activity, another factor must be involved after binding, and this may be -acceptance.     

Binding of oxindole-Schiff base copper(II) complexes to DNA and its modulation by the ligand

Previous studies on copper(II) complexes with oxindole-Schiff base ligands have shown their potential antitumor activity towards different cells, inducing apoptosis through a preferential attack to DNA and/or mitochondria. Herein, we better characterize the interactions between some of these copper(II) complexes and DNA. Investigations on its binding ability to DNA were carried out by fluorescence measurements in competitive experiments with ethidium bromide, using plasmidial or calf-thymus DNA. These results indicated an efficient binding process similar to that observed with copper(II)-phenanthroline species, [Cu(o-phen)₂]²⁺, with binding constants in the range 3 to 9 × 10² M^− 1. DNA cleavage experiments in the presence and absence of distamycin, a recognized binder of DNA, indicated that this binding probably occurs at major or minor groove, leading to double-strand DNA cleavage, and being modulated by the imine ligand. Corroborating these data, discrete changes in EPR spectra of the studied complexes were observed in the presence of DNA, while more remarkable changes were observed in the presence of nucleotides (AMP, GMP, CMP or UMP). Additional evidence for preferential coordination of the copper centers to the bases guanine or cytosine was obtained from titrations of these complexes with each nucleotide, monitored by absorption spectral changes. Therefore, the obtained data point out to their action as groove binders to DNA bases, rather than as intercalators or covalent cross-linkers. Further investigations by SDS PAGE using ³²P-ATP or ³²P-oligonucleotides attested that no hydrolysis of phosphate linkage in DNA or RNA occurs, in the presence of such complexes, confirming their main oxidative mechanism of action.     

Human adenosine deaminase as an allosteric modulator of human A(1) adenosine receptor: abolishment of negative cooperativity for [H](R)-pia binding to the caudate nucleus

It has been shown that adenosine deaminase (ADA; EC 3.5.4.4) behaves as an ecto-enzyme anchored to membrane proteins, among them A(1) adenosine receptors (A(1)Rs). Bovine ADA interacts with A(1)Rs from many species and regulates agonists binding to receptors in an activity-independent form. However, it was not known whether human ADA exerted any effect on the agonist binding to human A(1)Rs, because of both technical difficulties in obtaining pure human ADA and tissues containing human A(1)Rs. In this study, human ADA was purified to homogeneity. Taking in consideration that A(1)Rs form homodimers and taking advantage of a new procedure to fit binding data to receptors dimers, which allows to calculate ligand dissociation constants and the degree of cooperativity between the two subunits in the dimer, here it is demonstrated that human ADA markedly enhances the agonist and antagonist affinity and abolishes the negative cooperativity on agonist binding to human striatal A(1)Rs. ADA also increases the ability of the agonist to decrease the forskolin-induced cAMP levels. The results show that human ADA, apart from reducing the adenosine concentration and thus preventing A(1)R desensitization, binds to A(1)R behaving as an allosteric effector that markedly enhances agonist affinity and increases receptor functionality. The physiological role of the interaction is to make receptors more sensitive to adenosine. This powerful regulation has important implications for the physiology and pharmacology of neuronal A(1)Rs.     

Liquid chromatography of pyridine nucleotides and associated compounds and isolation of several analogs of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate.

A single-column technique is described for separating the naturally occurring nicotinic acid- and nicotinamide-containing nucleosides and nucleotides. A unique feature of the system is the use of conductivity measurements as a reproducible means of peak identification. The chromatographic system has been used to isolate a number of NADP⁺ analogs and to characterize their enzymatic hydrolysis products. These analogs include the α-anomer of NADP⁺, the nicotinic acid analog of NADP⁺, and a series of NADP⁺ derivatives that contain phosphate in the 3′-position.     

Binding of [3H]Imipramine to Human Platelet Membranes with Compensation for Saturable Binding to Filters and Its Implication for Binding Studies with Brain Membranes

Abstract: Apparent specific binding of [³H]imipramine to human platelet membranes at high concentrations of imipramine showed deviation from that expected of a single binding site, a result consistent with a low-affinity binding site. The deviation was due to displaceable, saturable binding to the glass fibre filters used in the assays. Imipramine, chloripramine, desipramine, and fluoxetine inhibited binding to filters whereas 5-hydroxytryptamine and ethanol were ineffective. Experimental conditions were developed that eliminated filter binding, allowing assay of high and low-affinity binding to membranes. Failure to correct for filter binding may lead to overestimation of binding parameters, B_max and K_D for high-affinity binding to membranes, and may also be misinterpreted as indicating a low-affinity binding component in both platelet and brain membranes. Low-affinity binding ( K_D < 2 μ M ) of imipramine to human platelet membranes was demonstrated and its significance discussed.     

Binding of cytochalasin B to platelets

The binding of cytochalasin B (CB) to human platelets and to isolated platelet cytosol and membranes has been analyzed with [3H]CB. High- and low affinity classes of saturable binding sites were associated with intact platelets. Binding at very low concentrations of CB (i.e., high-affinity binding) was partially prevented by 100 mM D-galactose or D-glucose and to a much lesser extent by L-glucose. Binding to platelet cytosol also involved two classes of sites with affinities and capacities similar to those observed with the whole cells. None of this binding, however, was affected by 100 mM D-galactose. Saturable binding to platelet membranes occurred at sites with a uniform binding affinity. Approximately 52% of this binding was prevented by 1 M D-galactose and another 15% by cytochalasin E (CE). We hypothesize that binding in the cytosol is to monomeric (low-affinity) and polymerized (high-affinity) actin, whereas membrane binding (high-affinity only) occurs primarily at sites involved with galactose transport.     

Binding of mouse fibrinogen to Candidaalbicans in vivo

Binding of fibrinogen to various Candida albicans strains has been investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy on kidney sections of experimentally infected mice. Fibrinogen appeared to bind to both mycelium and blastospores in situ whereas previous studies, carried out in vitro, have shown fibrinogen binding to mycelial elements only.     

Binding of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase to microtubules

The interaction of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase with microtubules has been studied by measurement of the amount of enzyme which co-assembles with in vitro reconstituted microtubules. The binding of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase to microtubules is a saturable process; the maximum binding capacity is about 0.1 mole of enzyme bound per mole of assembled tubulin. Half saturation of microtubule binding sites is obtained at a concentration of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase of about 0.5 µM Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (between 0.1 and 2 µM) induces a concentration-dependent increase a) in the turbidity of the microtubule suspension without alteration of the net amount of polymer formed and b) in the amount of microtubule protein polymers after cold microtubule disassembly. There is a linear relationship between the intensity of the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase-induced effects and the amount of microtubule-bound enzyme. The specificity of the association of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase to microtubules has been documented by copolymerization experiments. Assembly-disassembly cycles of purified microtubules in the presence of a crude liver soluble fraction results in the selective extraction of a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 35 000 identified as the monomer of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase by peptide mapping and immunoblotting.In conclusion, microtubules possess a limited number of binding sites for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The binding of the glycolytic enzyme to microtubules shows a considerable specificity and is associated with alterations of assembly and disassembly characteristics of microtubules.Abbreviations Mes 2(N-morpholinoethane) sulfonic acid - EGTA ethylene glycol bis (-aminoethyl-ester)N,N,N,N tetraacetic acid - EDTA thylene diamine tetraacetic acid     

The aggregation state of spin-labeled melittin in solution and bound to phospholipid membranes: evidence that membrane-bound melittin is monomeric

Spin-labeled derivatives of the bee venom protein, melittin, were obtained by reacting on the average one of the four amino groups of the protein with succinimidyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-pyrroline-1-oxyl-3-carboxylate. All 16 statistically possible reaction products with 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 spin labels per protein were then separated in a single pass with reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. With the help of trypsin digestion and diode array detection it was possible to assign the primary structure of all 16 eluting fractions. All fractions with only one spin label per protein were purified for electron paramagnetic resonance measurements. The labeling sites cover different regions of the protein: one is at the N-terminus, one at lysine-7, and two are near the C-terminus at lysine-21 and lysine-23, respectively. This set of specifically labeled melittins was used to study the structure and dynamics of melittin in aqueous solutions and when bound to neutral or negatively charged membranes. In aqueous solution a reduction in rotational correlation time and appearance of spin-spin interaction was observed during salt-induced transition from a random coil monomer to a mostly alpha-helical tetramer. Membrane binding to phospholipid bilayers in low or high ionic strength was reflected only in a further decrease in mobility. The absence of any spin interaction in the membrane-bound state suggests that melittin is monomeric under these conditions. All derivatives were able to detect these structural changes, but melittin labeled at the N-terminal amino group was especially valuable. Because of postulated intramolecular hydrogen bonding, this label reflects directly the motion of the entire protein or tetramer. Broadening experiments with chromium oxalate show that all labeled sites are at least partially exposed to the aqueous phase when melittin is bound to membranes. This suggests that an alpha-helical melittin monomer binds to membranes with its axis parallel to the membrane surface.