Determination of the Optimal Ammonium Sulfate Concentration for the Fractionation of Rabbit, Sheep, Horse, and Goat Antisera

Various ammonium sulfate concentrations and reaction conditions were employed in the fractionation of sera from rabbits, sheep, horses, and goats. Precipitates and supernatant fluids were analyzed by electrophoresis to study the effects of the controlled variables. At room temperature, the third precipitate in 35% saturated (NH(4))(2)SO(4) was the best fraction from both rabbit and sheep sera; 80 to 90% of the gamma globulins were recovered. The second and third precipitates of horse sera proteins in 30% saturated (NH(4))(2)SO(4) were both satisfactory, but only 44% of the gamma globulin was recovered after three precipitations. Goat sera yielded a very satisfactory fraction; 80% of the gamma globulin was recovered after two precipitations-the first in 30% and the second in 45% saturated (NH(4))(2)SO(4). The composition of these fractions was not influenced by the pH of the sulfate solutions (pH 5.8 and 7.2), by a range of normal room temperatures (20 to 30 C), or by diluting the sera before fractionation. Crude globulins and fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled globulins were successfully refractionated by one precipitation in the optimal sulfate concentration for the appropriate animal species. The refractionated products contained considerably less beta and alpha globulins than did the original crude fractions and little or no albumin.     

Calmodulin activates inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase activity in pig aortic smooth muscle.

The effects of calmodulin (CaM) on inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) 3-kinase activity in pig aortic smooth muscle were examined. The cytosol fraction of muscle cells, containing 1.2-2.0 micrograms of CaM/mg of cytosol protein (thus 0.12-0.2%, w/w), showed a Ca2+-dependent InsP3 3-kinase activity, and there was no further activation by exogenous addition of CaM purified from dog brain. (NH4)2SO4 fractionation of the cytosol fraction revealed that a 20-60%-satd.-(NH4)2SO4 fraction was rich in the enzyme activity, and the activity without exogenous CaM was still dependent on Ca2+, although the CaM content in this fraction was minute (0.013-0.016%, w/w). The kinase activity observed in the absence of exogenous CaM became insensitive to Ca2+ when a 20-60%-satd.-(NH4)2SO4 fraction was applied to a DEAE-cellulose column, but exogenous addition of CaM increased the enzyme activity from 80-120 to 450 pmol/min per mg of protein, with addition of 10 microM free Ca2+. A fraction separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography was applied to a CaM affinity column. The kinase activity was retained on the column in the presence of Ca2+, and was eluted by lowering the free Ca2+ concentration by adding EGTA. These results directly show that CaM activates InsP3 3-kinase activity and the enzyme becomes sensitive to Ca2+.     

Haemophilus paragallinarum secretes metalloproteases

Haemophilus paragallinarum secretes metalloproteases into different culture media lacking serum. Secreted proteins, concentrated by precipitation with 70% ammonium sulphate ((NH(4))(2)SO(4)) or methanol, displayed proteolytic activity at >100 kDa molecular mass in 10% polyacrylamide gels co-polymerized with porcine gelatin (0.1%). They were active in a broad pH range (4-9); pH 7.5 being the optimum. Protease activity was inhibited by 20 mmol EDTA/L and reactivated by calcium. The proteolytic activity was heat-stable at 40, 50, and 60 degrees C, but its activity diminished at 70 degrees C or higher. Secreted proteins partially degraded chicken immunoglobulin G (IgG) and cross-reacted with a polyclonal serum against a high molecular mass protease secreted by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Extracellular proteases could play a role in infectious coryza caused by H. paragallinarum.     

Some Cultural Conditions That Control Biosynthesis of Lipid and Aflatoxin by Aspergillus parasiticus

Synthesis of total lipid and aflatoxin by Aspergillus parasiticus as affected by various concentrations of glucose and nitrogen in a defined medium and by different incubation temperatures was studied. Maximal yields of lipid and aflatoxin were obtained with 30% glucose, whereas mold growth, expressed as dry weight, was maximal when the medium contained 10% glucose. Maximal mold growth occurred when the medium contained 3% (NH(4))(2)SO(4); however, 1% (NH(4))(2)SO(4) favored maximum accumulation of lipid and aflatoxin. Growth of mold and synthesis of lipid and toxin also varied with the incubation temperature. Maximal mold growth occurred at 35 C, whereas most toxin appeared at 25 C. Maximal production of lipid occurred at 25 and 35 C but production was more rapid at 35 C. Essentially all glucose in the medium (5% initially) was utilized in 3 days at 25 and 35 C but not in 7 days at 15 and 45 C. Patterns for formation of lipid and aflatoxin were similar at 15 and 25 C when a complete growth medium was used and at 28 C when the substrate contained various concentrations of glucose or (NH(4))(2)SO(4). They were dissimilar when the mold grew at 35 or 45 C. At these temperatures lipid was produced preferentially and only small amounts of aflatoxin appeared.     

Pendrin in the mouse kidney is primarily regulated by Cl- excretion but also by systemic metabolic acidosis

The Cl(-)/anion exchanger pendrin (SLC26A4) is expressed on the apical side of renal non-type A intercalated cells. The abundance of pendrin is reduced during metabolic acidosis induced by oral NH(4)Cl loading. More recently, it has been shown that pendrin expression is increased during conditions associated with decreased urinary Cl(-) excretion and decreased upon Cl(-) loading. Hence, it is unclear if pendrin regulation during NH(4)Cl-induced acidosis is primarily due the Cl(-) load or acidosis. Therefore, we treated mice to increase urinary acidification, induce metabolic acidosis, or provide an oral Cl(-) load and examined the systemic acid-base status, urinary acidification, urinary Cl(-) excretion, and pendrin abundance in the kidney. NaCl or NH(4)Cl increased urinary Cl(-) excretion, whereas (NH(4))(2)SO(4), Na(2)SO(4), and acetazolamide treatments decreased urinary Cl(-) excretion. NH(4)Cl, (NH(4))(2)SO(4), and acetazolamide caused metabolic acidosis and stimulated urinary net acid excretion. Pendrin expression was reduced under NaCl, NH(4)Cl, and (NH(4))(2)SO(4) loading and increased with the other treatments. (NH(4))(2)SO(4) and acetazolamide treatments reduced the relative number of pendrin-expressing cells in the collecting duct. In a second series, animals were kept for 1 and 2 wk on a low-protein (20%) diet or a high-protein (50%) diet. The high-protein diet slightly increased urinary Cl(-) excretion and strongly stimulated net acid excretion but did not alter pendrin expression. Thus, pendrin expression is primarily correlated with urinary Cl(-) excretion but not blood Cl(-). However, metabolic acidosis caused by acetazolamide or (NH(4))(2)SO(4) loading prevented the increase or even reduced pendrin expression despite low urinary Cl(-) excretion, suggesting an independent regulation by acid-base status.     

Optimization of fermentation conditions for preparation of polygalacturonic acid transeliminase by Erwinia carotovora IFO3830

This paper is concerned with optimization of the fermentation conditions for preparation of alkaline pectin lyase (poly-galacturonic acid trans-eliminase, PATE) by Erwinia carotovora IFO3830 (E.C.IFO3830). The orthogonal matrix method was adopted as the experimental design method for media. The effects of media composition on the growth rate of E.C.IFO3830 are in the order of pectin > KH(2)PO(4)/Na(2)HPO(4) > MgSO(4) > (NH(4))(2)SO(4) > glucose > L-glutamate sodium, and those on PATE activity are in the order of glucose > pectin > L-glutamate sodium > KH(2)PO(4)/Na(2)HPO(4) > MgSO(4) > (NH(4))(2)SO(4). The strain of E.C.IFO3830 grows quickly and easily near an initial pH of 7.0, and especially at the alkaline range of pH 7.0-8.0. The growth rate profiles indicate that E.C.IFO3830 grows very quickly; its generation time t(1/2) is about 0.2 h. The appropriate fermentation period is about 10-20 h for a high level productivity of biomass and 25-35 h for high productivity of PATE enzyme.     

The purification of cholinesterase from horse serum

A relatively simple method is described by which cholinesterase was purified about 19000-fold starting from horse serum. Typically 20 litres of serum were processed to yield 15-18mg of electrophoretically pure cholinesterase in the form of an active salt-free dry powder. The method included two stages: fractionation with (NH(4))(2)SO(4) and ion-exchange chromatography. The (NH(4))(2)SO(4) stage included, in principle, the acid (pH3) step of the Strelitz (1944) procedure. The step took advantage of the stabilizing effect that 33%-satd. (NH(4))(2)SO(4) has on cholinesterase activity at pH3 and it is recognized that in the absence of (NH(4))(2)SO(4) the enzyme is rapidly destroyed at pH3. Cholinesterase was significantly more stable to pH3.0 at 2 degrees C than at 24 degrees C, and the acid step was done at both temperatures. The specific activities of the final products obtained by way of acid steps were the same at either temperature, thus indicating that the step has not harmed the enzyme active sites. The product from the first two stages was purified over 18000-fold and was 85-90% cholinesterase. The remaining impurities were removed by preparative gel electrophoresis. The product was about 40% more active and contained 40% more active sites per unit weight than electrophoretically pure cholinesterase prepared from partially purified commercial starting material. Although the number of active sites per molecule was not determined with certainty, a value of at least 3 and possibly 4 was indicated. The partial specific volumes were determined with a precision density meter, on the ultracentrifuge and from the amino acid and carbohydrate composition. The values by these independent methods were 0.688, 0.71 and 0.712ml/g, respectively. The amino acid and carbohydrate composition was determined. The cholinesterase contained 17.4% carbohydrate including 3.2% N-acetylneuraminic acid.     

Purification and characterization of superoxide dismutase from chicken liver

Superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) is an enzyme that protects against oxidative stress from superoxide radicals in living cells. This enzyme has been isolated, purified and partially characterized from chicken liver. The following steps were carried out in order to purify chicken liver SOD. Initially, the liver was homogenized and hemoglobin was removed. Subsequently protein precipitation was effected with (NH(4))(2)SO(4), methanol, (NH(4))(2)SO(4)-methanol and polyethylene glycol methods. The product from polyethylene glycol-3350 precipitation was found to have the highest SOD activity. Polyethylene glycol was removed by chromatography using a PD-10 column. After passing through an ultrafilter, the superoxide dismutase was fractionated by DEAE-ion chromatography and then Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography. During this purification procedure, a specific activity of 4818.2 IU/mg was reached, corresponding to 285.8-fold purification. The purified enzyme, which was characterized as cyanide-sensitive SOD, contained two subunits having Cu and Zn elements with a molecular weight of 16000+/-500 for each. The optimum pH of purified CuZnSOD was determined to be 8.9. The enzyme was found to have good pH stability in the pH range 6.0-7.5 at 25 degrees C over a 2-h incubation period and displayed good thermal stability up to 45 degrees C at pH 7.4 over a 1-h incubation period. The SOD enzyme was not inhibited by DTT and beta-mercaptoethanol, but inhibited by CN(-) and H(2)O(2). In the presence of 2 mM iodoacetamide, the enzyme showed an approximately 40% activity loss. Finally, the inhibitory effect of ionic strength on SOD was also investigated.     

Emulsifier of Arthrobacter RAG-1: chemical and physical properties.

The extracellular emulsifier of Arthrobacter RAG-1 was deproteinized by hot phenol treatment and purified by fractional precipitation with (NH(4))(2)SO(4). The active fraction, precipitating between 30 and 35% saturation [EF-RAG(UET) WA], appeared to be homogeneous by immunodiffusion and sedimentation analysis. EF-RAG(UET) WA had an intrinsic viscosity of 750 cm(3)/g, a sedimentation constant of 6.06S, a diffusion constant of 5.25 x 10(-8) cm(2) s(-1), and a partial molar volume of 0.712 cm(3) g(-1). From these data a weight average molecular weight of 9.76 x 10(5) and a viscosity average molecular weight of 9.88 x 10(5) were calculated. EF-RAG(UET)WA contained 46.7% C, 7.01% H, and 6.06% N. Titration of the nonreducing polymer gave a single inflection point (pK' = 3.05), corresponding to 1.5 mumol of carboxyl groups per mg. Direct estimation of O-ester and hexose content of the highly acidic polymer yielded 0.65 and 0.29 mumol/mg, respectively. Mild alkaline hydrolysis released fatty acids with an average molecular weight of about 231. Strong acid hydrolysis of EF-RAG(UET)WA yielded d-glucose (minor), d-galactosamine (major), and an unidentified amino uronic acid (major).     

Energy-linked reduction of nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide in membranes derived from normal and various respiratory-deficient mutant strains of Escherichia coli K12

1. Assay conditions are described for the ATP-dependent, uncoupler-sensitive, energy-linked reduction of NAD(+) by succinate, dl-alpha-glycerophosphate or d-lactate in membranes from aerobically grown Escherichia coli. 2. The reaction may be demonstrated in electron-transport particles (ET particles) from cells grown in glycerol, but not in depleted particles washed in low-ionic-strength buffer, or in ET particles from cells grown in glucose. 3. The latter two classes of particles have low specific activities of ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase), succinate dehydrogenase, dl-alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase and d-lactate dehydrogenase relative to undepleted ET particles from cells grown in glycerol. 4. Reconstitution of energy-linked NAD(+) reduction in particles from cells grown in glucose was done by: (a) addition of the high-speed supernatant fraction from sonicates of the same cells; (b) addition of a protein fraction, precipitated by (NH(4))(2)SO(4) from this supernatant, or (c) addition of an (NH(4))(2)SO(4)-precipitated fraction from the low-ionic-strength wash of particles from cells grown in glycerol. 5. The use of (NH(4))(2)SO(4)-precipitated fractions from ATPase- or succinate dehydrogenase-deficient mutants grown in glycerol in the above reconstitution indicated that failure to demonstrate the reaction in particles from cells grown in glucose was a result of inadequate activities of appropriate dehydrogenases, rather than of ATPase. 6. Energy-linked NAD(+) reduction could be demonstrated in particles from a ubiquinone-deficient mutant only after restoration of NADH oxidase activity by adding ubiquinone-1. 7. The measured rate of the energy-linked reaction in particles from a haem-deficient mutant, however, was not stimulated after the ATP- and haematin-dependent acquisition of functional cytochromes. 8. Results are interpreted as evidence of the ubiquinone-dependent, but cytochrome-independent, nature of the site I region of the respiratory chain in E. coli.     

In vitro proteolysis of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from developing castor oil seeds by an endogenous thiol endopeptidase

Two novel phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) isoforms have been biochemically characterized from endosperm of developing castor oil seeds (COS). The association of a 107 kDa PEPC subunit (p107) with an immunologically unrelated bacterial PEPC-type 64 kDa polypeptide leads to marked physical and kinetic differences between the PEPC1 p107 homotetramer and PEPC2 p107/p64 heterooctamer. COS p107 is quite susceptible to limited proteolysis during PEPC purification. An endogenous asparaginyl endopeptidase appears to catalyze the in vitro cleavage of an approximately 120 amino acid polypeptide from the N-terminal end of p107, producing a truncated 98 kDa polypeptide (p98). Immunoblotting was used to estimate proteolytic activity by following the disappearance of p107 and concomitant appearance of p98 during incubation of clarified COS extracts at 4 degrees C. The in vitro proteolysis of p107 to p98 only occurred in the combined presence of 2 mM dithiothreitol and high salt concentrations (particularly SO(4) (2-) and PO(4) (2-) salts). Although p107-degrading activity was present throughout COS development, it was most pronounced in endosperm extracts from older beans. Several protease inhibitors, including two commercially available protease inhibitor cocktails, were tested for their ability to prevent p107 proteolysis. All of the inhibitors were ineffective except for 2,2'-dipyridyl disulfide (DPDS), a relatively inexpensive and underutilized active site inhibitor of plant thiol proteases. Asparaginyl endopeptidase activity of COS extracts was unaffected by 20% (NH(4))(2)SO(4) when determined in the presence or absence of 2 mM dithiothreitol using a spectrophotometric assay based upon the hydrolysis of benzoyl-L-Asn-p-nitroanilide. Thus, we propose that the combined presence of 2 mM dithiothreitol and 20% (NH(4))(2)SO(4) promotes a p107 conformational change that exposes the N-terminal region asparaginyl residue where p107 hydrolysis is believed to occur.     

Production of Types A and B Spores of Clostridium botulinum by the Biphasic Method: Effect on Spore Population, Radiation Resistance, and Toxigenicity

Spores of three strains each of type A and type B Clostridium botulinum were produced both by a biphasic (solid medium overlaid with an aqueous phase) and by a "conventional" (deep broth culture) procedure. Sporogenesis by the biphasic system was more rapid, convenient, and economical, and yielded as many or more heat-resistant (80 C, 10 min) spores per milliliter as by the conventional technique. Of several aqueous phases [thiamine-hydrochloride, yeast extract, (NH(4))(2)SO(4)] tested with strain 62A, the highest spore colony counts were obtained with 2.0% (NH(4))(2)SO(4). The six strains formed maximum spore numbers in 5 to 6 days of incubation. Spores produced by the two methods had essentially equal radiation resistances (D and lag values), and their subcultures gave similar toxin titers (LD(50) values).     

Inactivation of Na,K-ATPase following Co(NH3)4ATP binding at a low affinity site in the protomeric enzyme unit

The Na(+)-dependent or E1 stages of the Na,K-ATPase reaction require a few micromolar ATP, but submillimolar concentrations are needed to accelerate the K(+)-dependent or E2 half of the cycle. Here we use Co(NH(3))(4)ATP as a tool to study ATP sites in Na,K-ATPase. The analogue inactivates the K(+) phosphatase activity (an E2 partial reaction) and the Na,K-ATPase activity in parallel, whereas ATP-[(3)H]ADP exchange (an E1 reaction) is affected less or not at all. Although the inactivation occurs as a consequence of low affinity Co(NH(3))(4)ATP binding (K(D) approximately 0.4-0.6 mm), we can also measure high affinity equilibrium binding of Co(NH(3))(4)[(3)H]ATP (K(D) = 0.1 micro m) to the native enzyme. Crucially, we find that covalent enzyme modification with fluorescein isothiocyanate (which blocks E1 reactions) causes little or no effect on the affinity of the binding step preceding Co(NH(3))(4)ATP inactivation and only a 20% decrease in maximal inactivation rate. This suggests that fluorescein isothiocyanate and Co(NH(3))(4)ATP bind within different enzyme pockets. The Co(NH(3))(4)ATP enzyme was solubilized with C(12)E(8) to a homogeneous population of alphabeta protomers, as verified by analytical ultracentrifugation; the solubilization did not increase the Na,K-ATPase activity of the Co(NH(3))(4)ATP enzyme with respect to parallel controls. This was contrary to the expectation for a hypothetical (alphabeta)(2) membrane dimer with a single ATP site per protomer, with or without fast dimer/protomer equilibrium in detergent solution. Besides, the solubilized alphabeta protomer could be directly inactivated by Co(NH(3))(4)ATP, to less than 10% of the control Na,K-ATPase activity. This suggests that the inactivation must follow Co(NH(3))(4)ATP binding at a low affinity site in every protomeric unit, thus still allowing ATP and ADP access to phosphorylation and high affinity ATP sites.     

Microbial decomposition of wood in streams: distribution of microflora and factors affecting [C]lignocellulose mineralization

The distribution and lignocellulolytic activity of the microbial community was determined on a large log of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) in a Pacific Northwest stream. Scanning electron microscopy, plate counts, and degradation of [C]lignocelluloses prepared from Douglas fir and incubated with samples of wood taken from the surface and within the log revealed that most of the microbial colonization and lignocellulose-degrading activity occurred on the surface. Labeled lignocellulose and surface wood samples were incubated in vitro with nutrient supplements to determine potential limiting factors of [C]lignocellulose degradation. Incubations carried out in a nitrogenless mineral salts and trace elements solution were no more favorable to degradation than those carried out in distilled water alone. Incubations supplemented with either (NH(4))(2)SO(4) or organic nitrogen sources showed large increases in the rates of mineralization over incubations with mineral salts and trace elements alone, with the greatest effect being observed from an addition of (NH(4))(2)SO(4). Subsequent incubations with (NH(4))(2)SO(4), KNO(3), and NH(4)NO(3) revealed that KNO(3) was the most favorable for lignin degradation, whereas all three supplements were equally favorable for cellulose degradation. Supplementation with glucose repressed both lignin and cellulose mineralization. The results reported in this study indicate that nitrogen limitation of wood decomposition may exist in streams of the Pacific Northwest. The radiotracer technique was shown to be a sensitive and useful tool for assessing relative patterns of lignocellulose decay and microbial activity in wood, along with the importance of thoroughly characterizing the experimental system before its general acceptance.     

The macromolecular properties of blood-group-specific glycoproteins. Characterization of a series of fractions obtained by solvent fractionation

1. The glycoprotein components of a human ovarian-cyst fluid were isolated by a solvent [95% (w/w) phenol]-extraction procedure; the phenol-insoluble water-soluble glycoprotein was further fractionated by (NH(4))(2)SO(4) and by ethanol to yield eight fractions. 2. The fractions were analysed in terms of amino acids, fucose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine and sialic acid. Variations occurred, particularly in the proportion of peptide; these were partly correlated with varying extent of serological activity. 3. The fractions were characterized physicochemically in terms of buoyant density and degree of spreading in a density gradient, sedimentation velocity and molecular weight; their partial specific volumes and specific refraction increments were also determined. 4. The fractions showed wide variations in their sedimentation-velocity and density-gradient patterns, and gave evidence of pauci-dispersity in density. The fraction regarded as the most typical blood-group-specific glycoprotein sedimented as a single rapidly spreading peak and was of high molecular weight. 5. Significant correlations were observed between the physical properties of the glycoprotein fractions and the amount of their peptide component. The buoyant densities and sedimentation coefficients varied in a manner that suggested the existence of two families of glycoproteins. 6. It is suggested that variability in the extent of glycosylation, or in the degree of cross-linking, might account for the two families of glycoproteins, and that the extent of cross-linkage might also be a factor determining the solubility of these glycoproteins in hot saturated (NH(4))(2)SO(4).     

The effect of supplementation by different nitrogen sources on the production of lactic acid from date juice by Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus

Production of lactic acid from date juice by fermentation has been studied using Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus as the producer organism. The optimum substrate concentration, expressed in its glucose content, was 60 g l(-1). Various nitrogen sources were compared with yeast extract in terms of their efficiency for lactic acid production. None of these nitrogen sources gave lactic acid concentrations as high as that obtained with yeast extract. As yeast extract supplementation was not economically attractive, different proportions of (NH4)2SO4 and yeast extract were used. When the elemental nitrogen ratio of(NH4)2SO4 to yeast extract was 4:1, the substrate use and efficiency of lactic acid production were the same as in date juice supplemented with 20 g l(-1) yeast extract (0:5).     

Evidence on the presence of two distinct alkaline phosphatases in Serratia marcescens

Certain strains of Serratia marcescens synthesized two different types of alkaline phosphatase (APase), constitutive (CAPase) and inducible (IAPase) APases, in low phosphate medium. Synthesis of the IAPase was repressed in the presence of high phosphate. Purification and separation of these electrophoretically distinct APases was achieved by using fractional (NH(4))(2)SO(4) precipitation, adsorption on a DEAE-cellulose column and elution of enzymes by a linear sodium chloride gradient. Starch gel electrophoresis of certain fractions revealed the separation of not only IAPase from CAPase but its separation into four distinct isozymes. CAPase gave maximum enzyme activity around pH 9.5, whereas for IAPase a broad range of enzyme activity was found between pH 8.5 and 10.5. Reversible inactivation at low pH occurred for IAPase but very little with CAPase. CAPase was more thermolabile than IAPase at 95 degrees C. The two APases were found to be distinct in their kinetic as well as immunological properties, suggesting two distinct enzyme species.     

Microbial metabolism of the pyridine ring. Metabolism of 2- and 3-hydroxypyridines by the maleamate pathway in Achromobacter sp

1. Washed suspensions of two Achromobacter species (G2 and 2L), capable of growth upon 2- and 3-hydroxypyridine respectively as sources of C and N, rapidly oxidized their growth substrate pyridine-2,5-diol (2,5-dihydroxypyridine) and the putative ring-cleavage product maleamate without a lag. Suspensions derived from fumarate plus (NH(4))(2)SO(4) cultures were unable to do so. 2. Extracts of both bacteria oxidized pyridine-2,5-diol with the stoicheiometry of an oxygenase forming 1mol of NH(3)/mol of substrate. 3. Heat-treated extracts, however, formed maleamate and formate with little free NH(3). 4. The conversion of maleamate into maleate plus NH(3) by extracts of strain 2L, fractionated with (NH(4))(2)SO(4), and the metabolism of maleamate and maleate to fumarate by extracts of both strains demonstrated the existence of the enzymes catalysing each reaction of the maleamate pathway in these bacteria. 5. The pyridine-2,5-diol dioxygenase (mol.wt. approx. 340000) in extracts of these Achromobacter species required Fe(2+) (1.7mum) to restore full activity after dialysis or treatment with chelating agents; the enzyme from strain 2L also had a specific requirement for l-cysteine (6.7mm), which could not be replaced by GSH or dithiothreitol. 6. The oxygenase was strongly inhibited in a competitive manner by the isomeric pyridine-2,3- and -3,4-diols.     

Purification of human placental alkaline phosphatase. Salt effects in affinity chromatography

Human placental alkaline phosphatase was chromatographed on Sepharose derivatives of d- and l-phenylalanine, l-leucine, glycine, aniline and p-aminobenzoic acid in high concentrations of (NH(4))(2)SO(4). Retention on these columns was greatest at the highest concentrations of (NH(4))(2)SO(4). By using decreasing concentrations and changing the types of salts, elution was effected from each of the columns. The (NH(4))(2)SO(4)-mediated retention appeared to be related to the hydrophobic character of the substituted Sepharose, rather than to any specific binding site of the enzyme. It is suggested that this provides a way of controlling hydrophobic affinity chromatography. By use of chromatography on l-phenylalanine-Sepharose and of DEAE-Sephadex chromatography in the presence of Triton X-100 detergent, a preparation of highly purified (1000-fold) human placental alkaline phosphatase was obtained in 22% yield.     

Chaotropic resolution of high molecular weight (type I) NADH dehydrogenase, and reassociation of flavin-rich (type II) and flavin-poor subunits.

1. Type-I NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I) was solubilized and dissociated into subunits by NaClO4. NADH slows the dissociation. On subsequent stepwise addition of (NH4)2SO4 the dissociation is partly reversed, as is to be expected from the opposing effects of ClO-4 and SO-24, which are on the salting-in and salting-out sides, respectively, of the lyotropic series. 2. In consequence, the aggregates of subunits that are separated by (NH4)2-SO4 fractionation consist of randomly associated subunits as well as fragments of Type I enzyme. The fraction precipitating at 27% satd. (NH4)2SO4 is flavin-poor, that remaining soluble at 55% satd. (NH4)2SO4 flavin-rich and those separating between 27 and 55% satd. (NH4)2SO4 intermediate in composition. 3. The fraction remaining soluble at 55% satd. (NH4)2SO4 contains the purified low-molecular-weight iron-sulphur flavoprotein (Type-II dehydrogenase). It is a dimer consisting of one molecule of FMN, one 28-kilodalton and one 56-kilodalton subunit per protomer. Work of others indicates that it contains 4 Fe and 4 acid-labile S atoms per molecule of FMN. Sometimes the fraction remaining soluble at 55% satd. (NH4)2SO4 contained an additional small subunit (12 kilodaltons) and four additional Fe and acid labile S atoms per protomer. The sedimentation coefficients (s020,w) of the two preparations were 5.3 and 6.6 S, respectively, with calculated frictional ratios of 1.5 and 1.24, respectively. 4. The intermediate fractions are mixtures of the various subunits present in Complex I. Specifically a fraction separating at 55% satd. (NH4)2SO4 was found to be a mixture of two fragments, the pure iron-sulphur flavoprotein and a 26-S fragment that contained per protomer four subunits of 12 kilodaltons, one each of 28, 32, 56 and 77 kilodaltons, one molecule of FMN and 20 Fe and acid-labile S atoms. It was probably tetrameric or even larger. 5. The oxidoreductase activity of the intermediate fractions is dependent on the protein concentration, the activity with ferricyanide increasing and that with ferricytochrome c decreasing with increasing protein concentration. This is interpreted as an increased association of subunits present in the intermediate fractions. Similar results are obtained when flavin-rich and flavin-poor fractions are mixed. The association is cooperative. NADH favours the association of the subunits. 6. Association of the subunits is accompanied by a 10-fold increase in k2 (rate constant for intramolecular electron flow), a 10-fold decrease of the accessibility of ferricyanide to the reduced enzyme and a 10(4)-fold decrease of the accessibility of ferricytochrome c. The Ks (NADH) is also decreased. Although the changes are in the direction to be expected from a conversion of Type II enzyme to Type I, the value of k2 is still much less than in the latter enzyme.