A protease-like permeability factor in the guinea pig skin. 2. In vitro activation of the latent form permeability factor by weakly acidic phosphate buffer.

Conditions for the in vitro activation of the latent form of a protease-like permeability factor in the pseudoglobulin fraction from guinea pig skin were examined. (1) The factor was activated by dialysis against 67 mM phosphate buffer at pH 5.8--6.4, not at pH 7.0--8.0. (2) High salt concentration (200 mM or greater phosphate buffer or 67 mM phosphate buffer containing 200 mM or greater KCl or NaCl) prevented the activation at pH 6.2. (3) High osmotic pressure (sucrose at 1 M) did not affect activation at pH 6.2. (4) Reconversion of the activated permeability factor into an inactive form was not observed under high salt conditions, under which the latent permeability factor was stable in its own form. (5) The molecular size of the latent permeability factor was estimated as approx. 80 000 by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration at high salt concentration.     

Changes in permeability of fetal guinea pig skin during gestation

Permeability of fetal skin to tritiated water was measured in vitro using samples taken from the back and flanks of 21 guinea pig fetuses whose gestational age ranged from 30 to 67 days (term = 68 days). From 30 to 45 days, fetal skin was relatively permeable to water, with a permeability coefficient for unidirectional, diffusional transfer of labelled water that averaged 0.372 +/- 0.041 (SEM) X 10(-4) cm/s. Then during a 5-10 day interval, the measured permeability coefficient decreased abruptly to very low and barely detectable levels. These changes took place at the time during gestation when others have shown the skin becomes keratinized and growth of new hair follicles is completed. Thus these findings are consistent with a relatively free exchange of water between amniotic fluid and fetal interstitium across the skin during the first two-thirds of gestation and then with further maturation an abrupt functional separation between these fluid compartments during the last third of gestation.     

Protransglutaminase E from guinea pig skin. Isolation and partial characterization

We have isolated protransglutaminase E, the zymogen form of epidermal transglutaminase E, from the skin of the adult guinea pig. This zymogen is the source of the large majority of soluble transglutaminase activity of skin. A molecular weight value for protransglutaminase E of 77,800 +/- 700, estimated by sedimentation equilibrium, is in close agreement with the apparent values determined by exclusion chromatography and by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Treatment of the proenzyme with dispase, proteinase K, trypsin, or thrombin produces active enzyme. The enzyme, transglutaminase E, formed by the action of dispase, was observed to exist in the native state as a molecule indistinguishable in size from the zymogen. Under denaturing conditions, however, the enzyme dissociates into two fragments with molecular weights of 50,000 and 27,000. The observation that reducing agents are not needed for this dissociation suggests a noncovalent association of the two peptide chains in the native enzyme. Evidence that the catalytically essential -SH group of the enzyme residues in the Mr 50,000 fragment and that only the Mr 27,000 fragment possesses an unmasked amino terminus provides the basis for a proposed model of zymogen activation. Whether the noncatalytic fragment plays a role in catalysis is not known because separation of the fragments of native enzyme was not achieved.     

Partial purification and characterization of deoxyguanosine kinase from pig skin.

Deoxyguanosine kinase, which catalyses the phosphorylation of deoxyguanosine to form deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate, was purified 1024-fold from extracts to newborn-pig skin. This activity requires the presence of a bivalent cation and a nucleoside triphosphate, which functions as a phosphate donor, ATP being twice as effective as CTP or GTP and 4 times as effective as UTP. The enzyme appears to have a molecular weight of 58500 as determined by Sephadex-column chromatography. Optimal enzymic activity was observed at pH 8.0; however, the enzyme remained active over a broad pH range of 5.5-9.0. Several deoxyribonucleoside and ribonucleoside monophosphates and triphosphates were tested as effectors of catalytic activity. Effective inhibitors were dGMP [Ki(app.) = 7.6 x 10(-5) M] and dGTP [Ki(app.) = 2.1 x 10(-5) M]. Both of these inhibitors acted in a competitive manner. A Km(app.) of 3.2 x 10(-7) M was measured for deoxyguanosine and a Km(app.) of 3.3 mM was determined for MgATP. Of the four major deoxynucleosides tested, this catalytic activity appears to phosphorylate only deoxyguanosine; thus the enzyme is a specific deoxyguanosine kinase.     

Tachykinin receptor subtype that mediates the increase in vascular permeability in guinea pig skin

To determine the tachykinin receptor subtype that mediates the increase in vascular permeability, we examined the rank order of potency of tachykinins for inducing plasma extravasation in guinea pig skin and the specificity of tachykinin-induced tachyphylaxis of the responses. Plasma extravasation of the skin induced by tachykinins was NK-1 (SP-P)-type response from the rank order of potency of mammalian and nonmammalian tachykinins. Tachyphylaxis of the vascular response was induced by intradermal preinjection of mammalian tachykinins and was tachykinin-specific. In substance P (SP) tachyphylaxis (where SP was preinjected), the response to SP, not to neurokinin A (NKA) or neurokinin B (NKB), was decreased. In NKA tachyphylaxis and NKB tachyphylaxis, the response to NKA, not to SP or NKB, and the response to NKB, not to SP or NKA, were decreased, respectively. Thus, we conclude that the apparent NK-1-type response is mediated through three mammalian tachykinin receptors, NK-1, NK-2, and NK-3, which are specifically stimulated by their preferred agonist, SP, NKA, and NKB, respectively.     

Purification and partial characterization of platelet-derived adherence-inhibiting factor in guinea pig

Purification and partial characterization of adherence-inhibiting factor (AIF) of platelet-granule fraction in guinea pig were studied. When freshly prepared platelet-granule fraction was subjected to a gel filtration, two neutrophil adherence-inhibiting peaks, designated AIF-I (2,800 kDa) and AIF-II (12 kDa), appeared. AIF-I was sensitive to diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) and originated from lysosomes, whereas AIF-II was insensitive to DEP and localized in alpha-granules. Both AIFs were released from platelets by a thrombin stimulation. As the total activity of AIF-I was about 5-fold higher than that of AIF-II, AIF-I was purified and characterized. When purified AIF-I was analyzed on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the 340 kDa protein band and the other large protein band were observed. Under reducing condition, AIF-I was separated into three components (340, 190 and 165 kDa). AIF-I significantly inhibited neutrophil adherence to artificial substrata and to type IV collagen-coated plastic surface, but not to fibronectin- or plasma-coated plastic surfaces, suggesting that AIF-I inhibits neutrophil adherence not only via nonspecific adsorption sites but also via type IV collagen receptors.     

The purification and characterization of a proline dipeptidase from guinea pig brain

A proline dipeptidase (EC 3.4.13.9) from guinea pig brain was purified to over 90% homogeneity by a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, calcium phosphate-cellulose chromatography, chromatofocusing, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. A purification factor of 2718-fold was obtained with a yield of 7%. The purified enzyme was found to have an apparent molecular weight of 132,000 and to consist of two dissimilar subunits of molecular weights 64,000 and 68,000. The substrate specificity of the enzyme is not that of a strict proline dipeptidase. Although it preferentially hydrolyzes proline dipeptides (Leu-Pro) it also hydrolyzes prolyl dipeptides (Pro-Leu) and dipeptides not containing proline (Leu-Leu). The purified enzyme preparation exhibited weak aminoacylproline aminopeptidase activity against Arg-Pro-Pro but it did not exhibit any post-proline dipeptidyl aminopeptidase, post-proline cleaving endopeptidase, proline iminopeptidase, prolyl carboxypeptidase or carboxypeptidase P activities when tested with a large variety of peptides and arylamides. With all of the proline and prolyl dipeptides examined the enzyme exhibited biphasic kinetics (two distinct slopes on Lineweaver-Burk plots). However, with Leu-Leu as substrate normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics were obeyed.     

Fragments Ba and Bb derived from guinea pig factor B of the properdin system: purification, characterization, and biologic activities.

Functionally active guinea pig factor B was purified by a combination of chromatographic steps including Sephadex G-25, QAE A25, QAE A50, CM C50, and Sepharose 4B coupled with purified cobra venom factor. Purified factor B had a m.w. of 106,000 daltons and a single subunit structure. It was heat labile. After cleavage of native B with cobra venom factor coupled to Sepharose 4B in the presence of D, the resulting two fragments, the larger one (Bb) and the smaller one (Ba), were further purified. The m.w. of Bb and Ba was determined as 64,000 and 53,000 daltons, respectively, by SDS-PAGE. Neither of the fragments evoked a contraction of guinea pig ileum or histamine release from rat mast cells. Only the smaller fragment Ba (at a concentration of 120 nM) stimulated guinea pig peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes to respond with increased movement. This activity as well as the antigenicity of Ba were heat stable, but were sensitive to trypsin digestion, whereas the antigenicity of Bb was heat labile.     

Partial purification, physicochemical characterization and biological function of a rosette-decreasing factor (RDF) extracted from guinea pig thymus.

A factor that decreases rosette formation between guinea pig T-cells and rabbit red blood cells (RRBC) was extracted from the thymus of the guinea pig. The active factor could be extracted from the spleen as well as the thymus, but not from the liver or kidney. The active factor of the thymic extract was found in the precipitates produced by 80% saturated ammonium sulfate and it was separated from the water-soluble fraction of the precipitates. The molecular weight of the partially purified substance was estimated to range between 10,000 and 30,000 by filtration through a diaflow membrane. From the studies on physicochemical characterization, it might be a heat-resistant basic peptide probably bound to a ribonucleotide moiety. This factor reduced rosette formation between RRBC and guinea pig T-cells, but did not reduce erythrocyte-antibody-complement rosette formation. This factor also inhibited mitogen (concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin-P)- induced DNA synthesis of guinea pig lymphocytes and antigen-induced DNA synthesis of sensitized guinea pig lymphocytes.     

Multiplicity of liver microsomal flavin-containing monooxygenase in the guinea pig: its purification and characterization

Two distinct forms (FMO-I and FMO-II) of flavin-containing monooxygenase were purified from the liver microsomes of guinea pig. The minimum molecular weights estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were 54,000 for FMO-I and 56,000 for FMO-II, respectively. Tryptic digestion of these enzymes gave different electrophoretic patterns, suggesting that FMO-I and -II have distinct amino acid sequences. The amino terminal sequence of FMO-II could not be estimated probably due to its blocking while that of FMO-I was determined to be highly homologous to the rabbit liver flavin-containing monooxygenase (J. Ozols, 1989, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 163, 49-55). Absorption maxima of FMO-I and -II were recorded at 368 and 440 nm and 381 and 456 nm, respectively. Molar ratios of FAD to both of these apoenzymes were shown to be one to one. Substrate specificity of FMO-I and -II was determined using 15 compounds as the substrate. The results showed two enzymes that exhibited overlapped but different specificity toward these substrates although FMO-I had lower activity than did FMO-II with all compounds except thiobenzamide. Of particular interest, only FMO-II showed considerably high activities for primary amines, n-octylamine, and n-decylamine. Immunoglobulin G raised against FMO-II could recognize FMO-I as well as FMO-II, but the reactivity of FMO-I toward the antibody was obviously lower than that of FMO-II. Electrophoresis followed by immunostaining revealed that microsomes of lung, kidney, urinary bladder, testis, and spleen contain the same protein as FMO-II and/or FMO-I. Only lung was shown to have an additional isozyme of FAD-monooxygenase with a molecular weight apparently higher than those of FMO-I and -II. These results strongly suggest that at least two forms of flavin-containing monooxygenases distinct from the lung-type isozyme are expressed in liver of guinea pigs.     

Purification and characterization of a growth factor from guinea pig harderian gland

A polypeptide growth factor, Harderian gland-derived growth factor (HGDGF), has been purified approximately 43,000-fold from guinea pig Harderian gland by column chromatography on TSK gel DEAE-5PW, blue-Sepharose CL-6B, and Superose 12. The yield was approximately 10%. The Superose 12 fraction was further purified by Aquapore BU-300 reversed-phase chromatography to apparent homogeneity. HGDGF was eluted from TSK gel DEAE-5PW at 0.20-0.35 M NaCl, with a linear gradient of 0.15-0.80 M NaCl and at 2.20 M NaCl from blue-Sepharose CL-6B. The activity of HGDGF toward human embryonic cells (TIG-3) was quantitated, [3H]thymidine incorporation for 48 h being stimulated in a linear and dose-dependent manner. Purified HGDGF has a molecular weight of approximately 13,000, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and molecular sieve column chromatography. HGDGF is labile to treatment with SH reagents or acetic acid. Both trypsin digestion and boiling decrease the activity of HGDGF. Its pI is 5.1. HGDGF stimulates the multiplication of TIG-3 cells but has no effect on human endothelial cells K2T1 or A2T2 which require fibroblast growth factor for growth. HGDGF appears to differ from other growth factors, suggesting that it is a previously undescribed growth factor.     

Purification and characteriazation of collagenase from guinea pig skin.

Guinea pig skin col-agenase, isolated from culture medium of whole skin, was separated into two enzymatically active fractions. These two fractions have been purified extensively. Peak II fraction has been purified to homogeneity as examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Their molecular weights are approximately 130 000 (peak I) and 40 000 (peak II). Both guinea pig skin collagenase fractions are capable of degrading the native collagen fibrils and are inhibited by serum, cysteine and EDTA. They appear to be glycoproteins. Guinea pig skin (peak II) and human skin collagenase were compared. They are both glycoproteins and have similar molecular size (Mr = 40 000). Immunodiffusion assay showed that no cross-reactivity was seen between the enzymes, indicating species specificity among collagenases.     

Partial characterization of thymocyte-activating factor derived from MDP-stimulated guinea pig fibroblasts

The activity of fibroblast-derived thymocyte activating factor (FTAF) of the guinea pig was measured, and the factor was partially characterized. The FTAF activity was heat labile, and destroyed by treatment with trypsin, chymotrypsin, and Streptomyces griseus protease, suggesting the protein nature of FTAF. FTAF bound to DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B in Tris-HCl buffer at pH 8.0, and was eluted with 0.1-0.2 M NaCl. FTAF was absorbed with Blue Sepharose CL-6B. The factor bound to a hydroxylapatite column in 10 mM phosphate buffer and was eluted in two major fractions, one fraction with 40 mM phosphate buffer, the other with 70-110 mM phosphate buffer. Finally, FTAF did not have as much effect on the proliferation of lymph node T cells as T-cell-activating monokines which exhibited marked stimulating effects on both T lymphocytes and thymocytes.     

Biochemical characterization of alkaline phosphatase in guinea pig thymus.

1. Alkaline phosphatase (orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase (alkaline optimum), EC 3.1.3.1) in guinea pig thymus was extracted optimally in 10 mM Tris - HCl buffer at pH 8.0 containing 5 g/l Triton X-100. 2. alpha-Glycerophosphate, beta-glycerophosphate and phenolphthalein monophosphate were hydrolyzed by thymus extract with a pH optimum at 9.8-10.0, whereas p-nitrophenylphosphate and alpha-naphthylphosphate were hydrolyzed with pH optima at 10.7-10.8 and beta-naphthylphosphate at pH 11.2. P-Nitrophenylphosphate and phenolphthalein monophosphate proved to be the most suitable substrates. 3. Alkaline phosphatase was effectively inhibited by EDTA, Zn2+, histidine and urea therefore resembling the inhibition characteristics of alkaline phosphatase in the placenta and kidney, but not that in the liver and intestine, which differed markedly. 4. DEAE-cellulose chromatography and polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis revealed three enzyme peaks which did not differ in their substrate specificities and modifier characteristics. 5. Polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis of thymus, serum, placenta, kidney, liver, bone and intestine revealed no alkaline phosphatase bands definitely unique to thymus.