The human-specific action of intermedilysin, a homolog of streptolysin O, is dictated by domain 4 of the protein

Intermedilysin is a pore-forming cytolysin belonging to the streptolysin O gene family known as the 'Cholesterol-binding/dependent cytolysins' and is unique within the family in that it is highly humanspecific. This specificity suggests interaction with a component of human cells other than cholesterol, the proposed receptor for the other toxins of the gene family. Indeed, intermedilysin showed no significant degree of affinity to free or liposome-embedded cholesterol. Characterization of intermedilysin undecapeptide mutants revealed that this lack of affinity to cholesterol was a result of the substitutions of intermedilysin in this region. Absorption assays with erythrocyte membranes from various animals, competitive inhibition with domain 4 of intermedilysin and liposome-binding assays of streptolysin O and intermedilysin indicated that cell membrane binding is the human-specific step of intermedilysin action, that the host cell membrane-binding site is located within domain 4 in common with other members of the family and that the receptor for this toxin is not cholesterol. The species specificity of undecapeptide mutants of intermedilysin and streptolysin O and chimeric mutants between intermedilysin and streptolysin O, and intermedilysin and pneumolysin indicated that domain 4 of intermedilysin determines the human-specific action step and the cell-binding site of domain 4 lies within the 56 amino acids of the C-terminal, excluding the undecapeptide region.     

Binding of mercurials to membrane suspensions and undenatured proteins.

Binding capacities of membrane suspensions and dissolved compounds for mercurials were titrated by a new potentiometric method. Critical steps included a silver electrode of new design, the use of L-cysteine as a thiol buffer, a nitrogen atmosphere, and pretreatment of samples with equimolar mercurial and cysteine. Titrations had a sharp endpoint, accurate +/- 26 nmole methylmercury or +/- 8 nmole mercuric salt. Measurements of binding capacity of bovine serum albumin averaged 93% of the titer predicted for one SH group per molecule; those of human hemoglobin yielded 86-91% of the titer predicted for two SH groups per molecule. Yields dropped with exposure of protein solutions or membrane suspensions to atmospheric oxygen. Brain microsomes had significantly higher binding capacities (per milligram of protein) than red blood cell ghosts. The ratio of endpoint titers of CH3HgCl to HgCl2 averaged 2:1 in assays of cysteine, proteins, and membranes, showing that the assay was free of denaturation artifacts and protein-protein interference. Solutions of EDTA showed measurable binding of Hg2+ but not of CH3Hg+. Satisfactory titrations were also obtained with N-ethylmaleimide.     

Cytosolic delivery of granzyme B by bacterial toxins: evidence that endosomal disruption, in addition to transmembrane pore formation, is an important function of perforin

Granule-mediated cell killing by cytotoxic lymphocytes requires the combined actions of a membranolytic protein, perforin, and granule-associated granzymes, but the mechanism by which they jointly kill cells is poorly understood. We have tested a series of membrane-disruptive agents including bacterial pore-forming toxins and hemolytic complement for their ability to replace perforin in facilitating granzyme B-mediated cell death. As with perforin, low concentrations of streptolysin O and pneumolysin (causing <10% (51)Cr release) permitted granzyme B-dependent apoptosis of Jurkat and Yac-1 cells, but staphylococcal alpha-toxin and complement were ineffective, regardless of concentration. The ensuing nuclear apoptotic damage was caspase dependent and included cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, suggesting a mode of action similar to that of perforin. The plasma membrane lesions formed at low dose by perforin, pneumolysin, and streptolysin did not permit diffusion of fluorescein-labeled proteins as small as 8 kDa into the cell, indicating that large membrane defects are not necessary for granzymes (32 to 65 kDa) to enter the cytosol and induce apoptosis. The endosomolytic toxin, listeriolysin O, also effected granzyme B-mediated cell death at concentrations which produced no appreciable cell membrane damage. Cells pretreated with inhibitors of endosomal trafficking such as brefeldin A took up granzyme B normally but demonstrated seriously impaired nuclear targeting of granzyme B when perforin was also added, indicating that an important role of perforin is to disrupt vesicular protein trafficking. Surprisingly, cells exposed to granzyme B with perforin concentrations that produced nearly maximal (51)Cr release (1,600 U/ml) also underwent apoptosis despite excluding a 8-kDa fluorescein-labeled protein marker. Only at concentrations of >4,000 U/ml were perforin pores demonstrably large enough to account for transmembrane diffusion of granzyme B. We conclude that pore formation may allow granzyme B direct cytosolic access only when perforin is delivered at very high concentrations, while perforin's ability to disrupt endosomal trafficking may be crucial when it is present at lower concentrations or in killing cells that efficiently repair perforin pores.     

COMPARATIVE KINETICS OF HEMOLYSIS INDUCED BY BACTERIAL AND OTHER HEMOLYSINS

A study has been made of the kinetics of lysis induced by various hemolytic agents. The course of bemolysis was followed by mixing lysin with washed human erythrocytes, removing samples from the mixture, and estimating colorimetrically the hemoglobin in the supernatant fluid of the centrifuged samples. Most of the curves (but not all of them, e.g. tyrocidine) obtained by plotting degree of hemolysis against time, were S-shaped. The initiation of lysis by streptolysin S'' was delayed, and in this property, streptolysin S'' was similar to Cl. septicum hemolysin. None of the other lysins studied exhibited a long latent period preceding lysis. The maximum rate of hemoglobin liberation was found, in the range of lysin concentrations studied, to be a linear function of concentration when theta toxin of Cl. welchii, pneumolysin, tetanolysin, or streptolysin S'' was the lytic agent. With comparable concentrations of saponin, sodium taurocholate, cetyl pyridinium chloride, tyrocidine, duponol C, lecithin-atrox venom mixture, or streptolysin O, the relation between rate and concentration was non-linear. The critical thermal increment associated with hemolysis was determined for systems containing pneumolysin, theta toxin, streptolysin S'', streptolysin O, tetanolysin, and saponin. The findings concerning the effect of concentration and temperature on the rate of hemolysis provide a basis for classifying hemolytic agents (Tables I and II). Hemolysis induced by Cl. septicum hemolysin was found to be preceded by two phases: a phase of alteration of the erythrocytes and a phase involving swelling. Antihemolytic serum inhibited the first but not the second phase while sucrose inhibited the second but not the first phase.     

Alveolysin, the thiol-activated toxin of Bacillus alvei, is homologous to listeriolysin O, perfringolysin O, pneumolysin, and streptolysin O and contains a single cysteine.

The gene coding for alveolysin, the thiol-activated toxin produced by Bacillus alvei, has been cloned by means of an oligonucleotide based on the known N-terminal sequence of the secreted protein. The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene has been determined. The deduced amino acid sequence of alveolysin shows that alveolysin shares homologies with listeriolysin O, perfringolysin O, pneumolysin, and streptolysin O. Alveolysin, like the other members of the family, contains a single cysteine in the conserved peptide sequence ECTGLA WEWWR.     

The hydrophobic character of thiol-activated cytolysins

Hydrophobic chromatography on phenyl–Sepharose has revealed the decidedly hydrophobic character of several members of the group of cytolytic proteins termed `thiol-activated'. Pneumolysin, alveolysin, cereolysin, and streptolysin O were found to be equally hydrophobic, as were the oxidized and reduced forms of alveolysin. Hydrophobic chromatography has been utilized in the development of an improved procedure for the purification of pneumolysin.     

Differential effects of methylmercuric chloride and mercuric chloride on oxidation and iodination reactions catalyzed by thyroid peroxidase

Thyroid peroxidase (TPO), the major enzyme in the thyroid hormone synthesis, multifunctionally catalyzes (1) iodide oxidation, (2) iodination of the precursor protein, and (3) a coupling reaction of iodotyrosyl residues. The present study was carried out to examine the mercurial effects on the iodination, the second step of TPO. Purified porcine thyroglobulin or bovine serum albumin as acceptor protein was iodinated with [125I]NaI and H2O2 by purified porcine TPO. Iodinated protein was separated by acid precipitation on membrane filter or paper chromatography. Both CH3HgCl and HgCl2 dose-dependently inhibited the iodination, but HgCl2 was more potent to inhibit the iodination than CH3HgCl. These mercurial effects on the second step resemble the effects on the third step which were already reported; but are in marked contrast to the effects on the first step, where TPO was inhibited by HgCl2 but never by CH3HgCl.     

The differentiating agent, retinoic acid, causes an early inhibition of inositol lipid-specific phospholipase C activity in HL-60 cells

Retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, is shown to inhibit the levels of inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol by 25-30% when added to intact HL-60 cells at concentrations which induce differentiation. The onset of inhibition occurs after 10 min and reaches a maximum at 45 min. To study the mechanism and the site of action of retinoic acid, the activity of the phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate-specific phospholipase C was studied in cells permeabilized with streptolysin O and in membrane preparations. Phospholipase C activity was stimulated either via the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein) or directly by Ca2+. Retinoic acid treatment, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, led to a decrease in phospholipase C activity when stimulated with either GTP gamma S or NaF, both of which activate the enzyme via the G-protein. By contrast, it had no effect on the enzyme activity when stimulated with Ca2+ alone. This indicates that retinoic acid interferes with the coupling of the G-protein and phospholipase C. A relationship between the inhibition of phospholipase C activity and the induction of differentiation by retinoic acid was investigated. Only a small inhibition of GTP gamma S-stimulated phospholipase C activity was observed when an analogue of retinoic acid, etretine or Ro10-1670, with low differentiating activity, was used. Moreover, no inhibition of the GTP gamma S-stimulated phospholipase C activity was observed in an HL-60 sub-line resistant to retinoic acid. These results suggest that phospholipase C inhibition is an important step in the induction of differentiation.     

Approximate dimensions of membrane lesions produced by streptolysin S and streptolysin O

Membrane lesions produced by the streptococcal membranolysins streptolysin S and streptolysin O were investigated. Escape of labeled marker molecules of various sizes from resealed sheep erythrocyte ghosts treated with the toxins for 30 min allowed estimation of the sizes of the primary channels formed. Streptolysin S formed lesions ranging in size up to 45 A in diameter, and even high toxin concentrations did not result in larger channels. The lesions produced by streptolysin O exceeded 128 A in diameter. Kinetics experiments demonstrated that the primary streptolysin O lesions were formed rapidly (1-2 min), but release of marker molecules from streptolysin S-treated vesicles began only after a 5-15-min lag period. Label release from large unilamellar liposomes treated with streptolysin S suggested that membrane fluidity does not affect the size of the streptolysin S lesions.     

HgCl2-induced changes in cytosolic Ca2+ of cultured rabbit renal tubular cells

Fura 2 was used to measure changes in cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) in cultured rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells exposed to HgCl2. Treatment with 2.5-10 microM HgCl2 resulted in an extracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]e)-independent 2- to 12-fold increase in [Ca2+]i above resting levels of about 100 nM. Treatment with 25-100 microM HgCl2 caused a rapid [Ca2+]e-independent 10- to 12-fold increase in [Ca2+]i within 1 min followed by a recovery to about 2-fold steady state by 3 min. With 25-100 microM HgCl2, both magnitude and rate of Ca2+ increase were similar, but recovery was greater with increasing doses. A slower, secondary increase in [Ca2+]i followed which varied with HgCl2 concentration and required [Ca2+]e. The first increase in [Ca2+]i represents release from intracellular pools. Calcium channel blockers, calmodulin inhibitors, and mitochondrial inhibitors do not alter the patterns of [Ca2+]i changes due to HgCl2. The recovery response with higher HgCl2 concentrations appears to be triggered by Hg2+ and not by the increased [Ca2+]i. Sulfhydryl modifiers N-ethylmaleimide, PCMB and PCMBS produced [Ca2+]e-independent [Ca2+]i increases similar to those induced by low HgCl2 concentrations. Cell killing with HgCl2 was about 50% greater with normal [Ca2+]e than with low [Ca2+]e, suggesting that [Ca2+]e influx is important in accelerating injury leading to cell death.     

Klebsiella pneumoniae haemolysin adsorption to red blood cells

It was necessary to incubate the Klebsiella pneumoniae haemolysin with erythrocytes at 37 degrees C to produce the whole lytic action. The amount of attached klebolysin at 4 degrees C increased as its concentration in the medium increased, until the erythrocyte surface was saturated. Treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol was necessary to permit the adsorption; it was inhibited by low concentrations of cholesterol. Klebsolysin was immunogenic and its antiserum neutralized its own haemolytic effect and streptolysin O. Anti-streptolysin serum also neutralized klebsolysin. Streptolysin O attachment to erythrocytes impeded the posterior klebolysin adsorption in the same way that klebsolysin adsorption interfered with streptolysin O attachment.     

Klebsiella pneumoniae haemolysin adsorption to red blood cells

It was necessary to incubate the Klebsiella pneumoniae haemolysin with erythrocytes at 37°C to produce the whole lytic action. The amount of attached klebolysin at 4°C increased as its concentration in the medium increased, until the erythrocyte surface was saturated. Treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol was necessary to permit the adsorption; it was inhibited by low concentrations of cholesterol. Klebsolysin was immunogenic and its antiserum neutralized its own haemolytic effect and streptolysin O. Anti-streptolysin serum also neutralized klebsolysin. Streptolysin O attachment to erythrocytes impeded the posterior klebolysin adsorption in the same way that klebsolysin adsorption interfered with streptolysin O attachment.     

Sulfhydryl groups are essential for organic anion exchange in canine renal brush-border membranes

The effect of several sulfhydryl-modifying reagents (HgCl2, p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (PCMBS), N-ethylmaleimide) on the renal organic anion exchanger was studied. The transport of p-amino[3H]hippurate, a prototypic organic anion, was examined employing brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from the outer cortex of canine kidneys. HgCl2, PCMBS and N-ethylmaleimide inactivated p-aminohippurate transport with IC50 values of 38, 78 and 190 microM. The rate of p-aminohippurate inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide followed apparent pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. A replot of the data gave a linear relationship between the apparent rate constants and the N-ethylmaleimide concentration with a slope of 0.8. The data are consistent with a simple bimolecular reaction mechanism and imply that one molecule of N-ethylmaleimide inactivates one essential sulfhydryl group per active transport unit. Substrate (1 mM p-aminohippurate) affected the rate of the N-ethylmaleimide (1.3 mM) inactivation: the t1/2 values for inactivation in the presence and absence of p-aminohippurate were 7.4 and 3.7 min, respectively. The results demonstrate that there are essential sulfhydryl groups for organic anion transport in the brush-border membrane. Moreover, the ability of substrate to alter sulfhydryl reactivity suggests that the latter may play a dynamic role in the transport process.     

Sodium fluoride prevents receptor- and protein kinase C-mediated activation of the human platelet Na+/H+ exchanger without inhibiting its basic pHi-regulating activity

When human platelets are stimulated with thrombin or activators of protein kinase C, cytosolic pH (pHi) increases due to activation of Na+/H+ exchange. In order to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms that regulate the exchanger, we used sodium fluoride, which is a known activator of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) in platelets. Although NaF induced the mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular storage sites in fura2-loaded platelets, it failed to raise pHi as determined from the fluorescence of 2,7-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein-loaded platelets. Furthermore, when thrombin (0.1 unit/ml) or the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) had raised pHi from 7.13 +/- 0.05 to 7.35 +/- 0.07 (n = 30), addition of NaF (2.5-10 mM) rapidly restored pHi to values found before stimulation. Conversely, preincubation of platelets with low concentrations of NaF (2.5 mM) completely prevented alkalinization in response to thrombin or TPA. Unlike ethylisopropylamiloride, which completely blocked Na+/H+ exchange, NaF did not prevent the recovery of pHi from an artificial acid load. Hence, the inhibitory action of NaF is restricted to receptor-mediated activation of the antiport. In order to investigate whether the NaF effect was attributable to a G protein, platelets were preincubated with N-ethylmaleimide (50 microM), which is known to inhibit the adenylyl cyclase-inhibitory G protein. N-Ethylmaleimide treatment not only prevented inhibition of adenylyl cyclase by epinephrine but also completely reversed the inhibitory effect of NaF on the Na+/H+ exchanger. Our data suggest the existence of a novel G protein which is activated by fluoride and functions as a negative regulator of the Na+/H+ exchanger in platelets.     

不同汞化合物对水稻、小麦的影响及作物对汞的吸收积累

本试验研究了5种汞化合物(HgS,HgO,CH_3HgCl,HgCl_2,C_8H_8O_2Hg)对水稻、小麦生长发育的影响及作物对汞的吸收、积累。结果表明,C_8H_8O_2Hg对作物的危害比HgCl_2和CH_3HgCl大,HgS的危害最轻。不同汞化合物对水稻蒸腾作用的抑制程度看出,C_8H_8O_2Hg的毒性大,HgS的毒性最小;抑制小麦光合作用的程度看出,HgCl_2的毒性大、HgS的毒性小。不同汞化合物处理的土壤中,水稻、小麦的含汞量是随着汞化合物的浓度增加而增加,以C_8H_8O_2Hg处理的土壤,作物吸收的汞最多,转移到地上部的汞最多,HgS处理的土壤,汞转移到地上部最少;小麦吸收的汞大部积累在根中,地上部(茎叶)的含汞量显著比水稻少;各处理的土壤总汞含量与水稻的含汞量相关性显著。土壤中的HgS、HgCl_2可以转化为CH_3HgCl,并转运到植物体各器官。 本试验是用盆栽试验的方法,土壤用不同浓度不同汞化台物处理。 用的“称重法”测定了水稻的蒸腾作用。用FQW-CO_2红外气体分析仪测定了小麦的光合强度。用F-732测汞仪测定了水稻、小麦不同器官和土壤中的总汞含量。用巯基棉气相色谱法测定了甲基汞的含量。     

Specific detection of RNA molecules by fluorescent in situ hybridization in living cells

The antisense therapeutic strategy makes the assumption that sequence-specific hybridization of an oligonucleotide to its target can take place in living cells. The present work provides a new method for the detection of intracellular RNA molecules using in situ hybridization on living cells. The first step consisted in designing nonperturbant conditions for cell permeabilization using streptolysin O. In a second step, intracellular hybridization specificity was evaluated by incorporating various types of fluorescently labeled nucleic acid probes (plasmids, oligonucleotides). Due to its high expression level, the 28S ribosomal RNA was retained as a model. Results showed that: (1) no significant cell death was observed after permeabilization; (2) on living cells, 28S RNA specific probes provided bright nucleoli and low cytoplasmic signal; (3) control probes did not lead to significant fluorescent staining; and (4) comparison of signals obtained on living and fixed cells showed a colocalization of observed fluorescence. These results indicate the feasibility of specific hybridization of labeled nucleic acid probes under living conditions, after a simple and efficient permeabilization step. This new detection method is of interest for investigating the dynamics of distribution of various gene products in living cells, under normal or pathological conditions.Abbreviations PI propidium iodide - SLO streptolysin O     

Inhibitory effects of N-ethylmaleimide on insulin- and oxidant-stimulated sugar transport and on 125I-labelled insulin binding by rat soleus muscle

These experiments examined the effects of N-ethylmaleimide on insulin- and oxidant-stimulated sugar transport in soleus muscle in terms of the Thiol-Redox model for insulin-stimulated adipocyte sugar transport (Czech, M.P. (1976) J. Cell. Physiol. 89, 661-668). Brief exposure (1 min) to N-ethylmaleimide (0.3-10 mM) inhibited the stimulatory effect of insulin (0.1 U/ml) on D-[U-14C]xylose uptake by rat soleus muscle. N-Ethylmaleimide also inhibited the stimulatory effects of H2O2 (5 mM), diamide (0.2 mM) and vitamin K-5 (0.05 mM). This effect of N-ethylmaleimide on insulin action was paralleled by the inhibition of 125I-labelled insulin binding by the muscle. N-ethylmaleimide lowered muscle ATP; however, its effects on sugar transport and 125I-labelled insulin binding could be dissociated from its effect on ATP. Exposing muscles to insulin prior to N-ethylmaleimide did not abolish the inhibitory effect of sulphydryl blockade on insulin-stimulated sugar transport, but did reduce the effect of the inhibitor by 20-30%. Conversely, when muscles were first allowed to bind 125I-labelled insulin and then exposed to the inhibitor, there was no effect of N-ethylmaleimide on pre-bound insulin. Exposure to diamide or vitamin K-5 before N-ethylmaleimide (1 mM) attenuated the inhibitory effect of sulphydryl blockade but no protective effect was observed with H2O2. None of the oxidants protected against the inhibitory effect of 3 mM N-ethylmaleimide. It is concluded that there are two N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive sites involved in the activation of muscle sugar transport at the post-receptor level. One of these would appear to be similar to the Thiol-Redox site described in the adipocyte; the other site appears to be an essential sulphydryl group whose function does not involve oxidation to a disulphide.     

A fluorimetric determination of the activity of glycolipid transfer protein and some properties of the protein purified from pig brain

The fluorimetric method of Correa-Freire et al. (Correa-Freire, M.C., Barenholz, Y. and Thompson, T.E. (1982) Biochemistry 21, 1244-1248) to measure glucosylceramide transfer between phospholipid bilayers has been applied to the determination of the activity of glycolipid transfer protein purified from pig brain. The transfer of pyrene-labeled galactosylceramide (PyrGalCer) from donor to acceptor vesicles was measured by a decrease in the intensity ratio of eximer (E) to excited monomer (M). A sensitive determination of the glycolipid transfer activity is possible by the fluorimetric method without separation of the donor and acceptor vesicles. The newly developed fluorimetric assay of glycolipid transfer protein was used to study the effects of N-ethylmaleimide, HgCl2 and sugars on the transfer activity. The treatment with N-ethylmaleimide inactivated the activity to about 40%. The activity was almost completely inactivated by the treatment with HgCl2. Monosaccharides and methyl-alpha-D-glucoside had no inhibitory effect on the transfer activity. A marked and immediate drop of the E/M ratio was observed by the addition of glycolipid transfer protein to vesicles containing PyrGalCer at a protein-to-PyrGalCer molar ratio of 1.56:1. The result suggests a complex formation of glycolipid transfer protein with PyrGalCer.     

Resistance to streptolysin O in mammalian cells treated with oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol cholesterol content of resistant cells and recovery of streptolysin O sensitivity

Cultures of L cells and HeLa cells were made resistant to the cytolytic toxin, streptolysin O, by incubating them in the presence of 20α-hydroxycholesterol or 25-hydroxycholesterol. Such cells were also found to be more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of saponin and digitonin, agents known to interact with membrane cholesterol. Sterol synthesis in L cells that had been treated with either of the oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol was reduced by almost 90%, and the free cholesterol content of streptolysin O-resistant HeLa and L cells fell to approx. 50% of control cell levels. Significant recovery of sensitivity to streptolysin O occurred in about 6 h when refractory L cells were incubated in serum or cholesterol. Partial recovery was observed when the cultures were incubated for 24 h in mevalonate or lipid-depleted serum. The results provide further support for the role of membrane cholesterol in the cytotoxic action of streptolysin O on mammalian cells.     

Binding of Mercurials to Membrane Suspensions and Undenatured Proteins

Binding capacities of membrane suspensions and dissolved compounds for mercurials were titrated by a new potentiometric method. Critical steps included a silver electrode of new design, the use of L-cysteine as a thiol buffer, a nitrogen atmosphere, and pretreatment of samples with equimolar mercurial and cysteine. Titrations had a sharp endpoint, accurate ±26 nmole methylmercury or ±8 nmole mercuric salt. Measurements of binding capacity of bovine serum albumin averaged 93% of the titer predicted for one SH group per molecule; those of human hemoglobin yielded 86-91% of the titer predicted for two SH groups per molecule. Yields dropped with exposure of protein solutions or membrane suspensions to atmospheric oxygen. Brain microsomes had significantly higher binding capacities (per milligram of protein) than red blood cell ghosts. The ratio of endpoint titers of CH₃ HgCl to HgCl₂ averaged 2:1 in assays of cysteine, proteins, and membranes, showing that the assay was free of denaturation artifacts and protein-protein interference. Solutions of EDTA showed measurable binding of Hg²⁺ but not of CH₃ Hg⁺. Satisfactory titrations were also obtained with N-ethylmaleimide.