Evidence for a beta-Aspartyl Phosphate Residue in the Phosphorylated Intermediate of the Red Beet Plasma Membrane ATPase

A borohydride reduction method was used to identify the phosphorylated amino acid in the phospho-enzyme of the red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) plasma membrane ATPase. Plasma membrane fractions were phosphorylated with unlabeled ATP in the presence of MgSO₄ at pH 6.5 and then treated with sodium [³H]borohydride. The borohydride-treated samples were subjected to hydrolysis in 6 normal HCl at 110°C for 22 hours and then analyzed by high voltage paper electrophoresis and thin layer chromatography. This analysis demonstrated the formation of labeled homoserine as the major reduction product when phosphorylated membrane samples were treated with sodium [³H]borohydride. This suggests that the phosphoryl group in the plasma membrane ATPase of red beet storage tissue is attached to the β-carboxyl side chain of an aspartic acid residue in the active site of the enzyme.     

A simple isotope derivative assay for prostaglandins and prostaglandin metabolites. I. Assay of e-type prostaglandins.

Prostaglandins of the E series may be reduced with [³H]borohydride to their corresponding counterparts of the F series: during reduction a tritium label is incorporated into the molecule. We describe a simple assay based on this reaction which can be used to measure E-type prostaglandins, and with slight modifications, to measure F-, A-, and D-type prostaglandins, as well as the 15-keto and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto metabolites. The assay will estimate 1–10 ng PGE compounds (～10^?11–10^?12 moles) but some prior purification of the sample is necessary.     

A new synthetic method for 99mTc labeled N-Pyridoxyl-5-methyltryptophan as a hepatoma imaging agent

N-Pyridoxyl-5-methyltryptophan (5-PMT) was synthetized by a simplified method using sodium borohydride for the reduction of a Schiff base of pyridoxal and 5-methyltryptophan. Lyophilized kits containing 5-PMT, stannous chloride and l-(+)-ascorbic acid were prepared and labeled to afford ^99mTc-5-PMT with 96% or higher radiochemical purity analysed by two thin-layer chromatographic solvent systems. ^99mTc-5-PMT showed a rapid blood clearance, a faster hepatobiliary transit and a lower renal retention in comparison with ^99mTc-5-EHIDA in rats. Eleven (61%) of 18 patients with histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma showed positive images at 2 to 5 h after i.v. injection. The smallest tumor that could be identified was 2 cm in diameter with the best tumor/liver ratio of 4. In conclusion, ^99mTc-5-PMT synthesized by sodium borohydride reduction shows great promise as a useful hepatoma imaging agent.     

Pyridoxal-5'-phosphate as a cofactor for rat brain histidine decarboxylase.

The cofactor requirements of brain histidine decarboxylase activity have been studied. Preincubation with carbonyl reagents caused inhibition of the activity ranging from 90% for 10^?2m -semicarbazide, 10^?3m -phenylhydrazide and 10^?3m -hydroxylamine to 50% for isonicotinic acid hydrazide. Sodium borohydride, a reducing agent, also caused complete inhibition of activity. The histidine decarboxylase activity was maximal at 10^?4m -pyridoxal-P concentration and was inhibited at higher concentrations of the cofactor. The cofactor-apoenzyme mode of binding was studied by dialysing brain homogenates against several media. Neither the dialysis against buffers alone nor against buffers containing semicarbazide nor cysteine plus EDTA caused a total loss of activity. A 50% of the activity dialysed easily while the other 50% remained ‘tightly’ bound to the apoenzyme. The dialysable and non dialysable activity is evenly distributed between the soluble and particulate activity.     

Immobilization and stabilization of d-hydantoinase from Vigna angularis and its use in the production of N-carbamoyl-d-phenylglycine. Improvement of the reaction yield by allowing chemical racemization of the substrate

This work reports the immobilization of a multimeric d-hydantoinase (DHTase) from Vigna angularis (E.C. 3.5.2.2.) on agarose beads activated with glyoxyl groups aiming to improve its stability via multipoint covalent attachment. The final reduction with sodium borohydride resulted in a drop in enzyme activity that could be decreased by adding Zn²⁺ or Mg²⁺. The optimal preparation with high activity (58 % recovered activity) and stability (around 86-fold more stable than the free enzyme) was obtained by DHTase immobilization on glyoxyl agarose for 24 h at 25 °C and pH 10.05, and a borohydride reduction step in the presence of 10 mM Zn²⁺ (DHTase-Glx). The enzyme was almost fully immobilized on glyoxyl agarose (19.8 mg/g of support) when offering 20 mg/g. This immobilized biocatalyst was used to catalyze the hydrolysis of d,l-phenylhydantoin under substrate racemization conditions, which produced 99 % of N-carbamoyl-d-phenylglycine after 9 h reaction.     

Histochemical procedures for the simultaneous visualization of neutral sugars and either sialic acid and its side chain O-acyl variants or O-sulphate ester. I. Methods based upon the selective periodate oxidation of sialic acids

Summary Five new methods, based upon the selective oxidation of sialic acid residues with 0.4mm periodic acid in approximately 1m hydrochloric acid at 4°C for 1 h (PA^*), have been devised for the simultaneous visualization of neutral sugars and either sialic acid and its side chainO-acyl variants orO-sulphate ester. In the first of these, the selective periodate oxidation—borohydride reduction—saponification—selective periodate oxidation—Thionin Schiff—saponification—borohydride reduction—periodic acid—Schiff (PA^*—Bh—KOH—PA^*—T—KOH—Bh—PAS) technique, sialic acids withO-acyl substituents at C7, C8 or C9 (or which have two of three side chainO-acyl substituents) stain blue while neutral sugars with periodate-sensitivevicinal diols (hexose, 6-deoxyhexose, andN-acetylhexosamine) stain magenta. The second method, the saponification—selective periodate oxidation—Thionin Schiff—saponification—borohydride reduction—periodic acid—Schiff (KOH—PA^*—T—KOH—Bh—PAS), stains all sialic acids blue and neutral sugars magenta. In the third procedure, the selective periodate oxidation—Thionin Schiff—borohydride reduction—periodic acid—Schiff—saponification (PA^*—T—Bh—PAS—KOH) method, sialic acids without side chain substituents (or which have anO-acyl substituent at C7) stain blue and neutral sugars stain magenta. In the fourth method, the saponification-selective periodate oxidation—borohydride reduction—Alcian Blue pH 1.0—periodic acid—Schiff (KOH—PA^*—Bh—AB1.0—PAS) technique,O-sulphate esters stain aquamarine blue and neutral sugars stain magenta. In all of these techniques mixtures of the components stain in various shades of purple. Performance of the KOH—PA^*—Bh—AB1.0—PAS technique without the Alcian Blue pH 1.0 step provides a method for the selective identification of neutral sugars in macromolecules that also contain sialic acids.     

Periodate-induced lymphocyte transformation : V. Inhibition of periodate-induced transformation of human peripheral lymphocytes with aldehyde-blocking agents

Periodate (IO₄⁻) is a non-specific mitogen for lymphocytes. Previous studies have shown that the conditions necessary for optimal IO₄⁻ transformation are those which favor the oxidation of 1,2-glycols to aldehydes. Exposure of human peripheral lymphocytes to the aldehyde-blocking agents thiocarbohydrazide, hydroxylamine, dimedone, or sodium borohydride following (but not preceding) IO₄⁻ treatment significantly reduces the transformation. The ability of hydroxylamine and borohydride to block transformation persists for at least 24 h after the IO₄⁻ treatment in contrast to thiocarbohydrazide and dimedone which show a reduced blocking after incubation of 8 h and 2 h respectively.     

Chemical modification of photosystem II core complex pigments with sodium borohydride

The reaction of the irreversible chemical reduction of the 13¹-keto C=O group of pheophytin a (Pheo a) with sodium borohydride in reaction centers (RCs) of functionally active spinach photosystem II (PS II) core complexes was studied. Stable, chromatographically purified PS II core complex preparations with altered chromophore composition are obtained in which ～25% of Pheo a molecules are modified to 13¹-deoxo-13¹-hydroxy-Pheo a. Some of the chlorophyll a molecules in the complexes were also irreversibly reduced with borohydride to 13¹-deoxo-13¹-hydroxy-chlorophyll a. Based on the results of comparative study of spectral, biochemical, and photochemical properties of NaBH₄-treated and control preparations, it was concluded that: (i) the borohydride treatment did not result in significant dissociation of the PS II core complex protein ensemble; (ii) the modified complexes retained the ability to photoaccumulate the radical anion of the pheophytin electron acceptor in the presence of exogenous electron donor; (iii) only the photochemically inactive pheo-phytin Pheo_D2 is subjected to the borohydride treatment; (iv) the Q_x optical transition of the Pheo_D2 molecule in the RC of PS II core complexes is located at 543 nm; (v) in the Q_y spectral region, Pheo_D2 probably absorbs at ～680 nm.     

Platelet plasma membrane glycoproteins Identification of a proteolytic substrate for thrombin

The surface glycoproteins of the platelet plasma membrane were labeled by oxidation with galactose oxidase followed by reduction with (³H)-sodium borohydride. Of the glycoproteins labeled, only glycoprotein V (apparent molecular weight of 89,000) was decreased as a result of thrombin action. The affected glycoprotein appeared to be completely removed at a concentration of 1 U thrombin per 10⁹ platelets. A soluble glycopeptide hydrolytic product with an apparent molecular weight of 70,000 was released into solution.     

α-d-allopyranosyl β-d-fructofuranoside (allo-sucrose) and its derivatives

Reduction of 3-ketosucrose (1) with sodium borohydride gave mainly α-d-allopyranosyl β-d-fructofuranoside (2) characterized as its octabenzoate. Using sodium borodeuteride, [3-²H]allo-sucrose (5) and [3-²H]sucrose (6) were obtained in the ratio 12:1. The mixture was fractionated on Dowex-50 X8 resin (Ca²⁺ form), and the [3-²H] derivatives were isolated as their octa-acetates. Inspection of the ¹³C-n.m.r. spectra of 5 and 6 enabled the C-3 signals to be assigned. allo-Sucrose (2) was more readily obtained by oxidation of sucrose with dimethyl sulphoxide-acetic anhydride followed by reduction with sodium borohydride and fractionation on Dowex-50 X8 (Ca²⁺) resin. Tritylation of 2 followed by acetylation gave, after chromatography, the 6,1′,6′-tritrityl ether (9, 10%), the 6,6′-ditrityl ether (10, 26%), and a mixture of monotrityl ethers (20%). Hydrogenolysis of 9 and 10 gave the penta-acetate and hexa-acetate, respectively, with no detectable migration of AcO-4. Treatment of 2 with sulphuryl chloride at -50° gave the 6,6′-dichloride.     

N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyl-β-(1→4)-D-galactose: A terminal non-reducing structure in human blood group Sda-active Tamm-Horsfall urinary glycoprotein

Human Sd^a-active Tamm-Horsfall urinary glycoprotein labelled with galactose oxidase and tritiated sodium borohydride was found to contain both galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine as [³H]-labelled terminal non-reducing sugars. Fragmentation of the macromolecule achieved by hydrazinolysis and acid hydrolysis was followed by fractionation of the degradation products by gel filtration, ion exchange and paper chromatography. A major product was a disaccharide which contained unlabelled galactose and [³H]-labelled N-acetylgalactosamine. Sugar analysis, sodium borohydride reduction, methylation analysis and enzymic degradation enabled the structure N-acetyl-D-galactosaminyl-β-(1→4)-D-galactose to be assigned to the disaccharide.     

Gas chromatography of neutral and amino sugars in glycoproteins

A gas chromatographic method for determining the neutral and amino sugars commonly found in glycoproteins of animal origin is described. Following mild acid hydrolysis, the solution is neutralized with Dowex 1 HCO₃⁻, and the sugars are reduced to alditols in the cold with sodium borohydride. The solution is lyophilized, and the alditols are acetylated with acetic anhydride in pyridine. Monosaccharides can be determined on as little as 1 mg of a glycoprotein which contains 6% total carbohydrate.     

The tritium labeling of small amounts of protein for analysis by electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide slab gels.

A simple and reproducible method for the tritium labeling of small amounts of proteins prior to analysis under denaturing conditions on polyacrylamide slab gels is described. The method involves the in vitro labeling of proteins by reductive methylation using formaldehyde and high specific activity [³H]potassium borohydride. Labeled proteins were detected by fluorography after fractionation on polyacrylamide slab gels in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate. The overall procedure allows the analysis and molecular weight estimation of submicrogram quantities of protein.     

The effect of alkaline borohydride treatment onN-linked carbohydrates of glycoproteins

The effects of treatments of the glycoprotein ribonuclease-B, the proteins ribonuclease-A and myoglobin, and the glyco-amino acid GlcNAc(1-N) Asn with alkalil alkaline sodium borohydride, and aqueous sodium borohydride were systematically studied as a function of the concentration of the reagents, the temperature, and the length of the treatment. High-field¹H-NMR spectroscopy, chromatographic methods and amino-acid analysis were used to characterize products of the treatments of the various compounds. Our results indicate that mild alkaline borohydride treatment, as well as aqueous borohydride treatment alone, is capable of extensively degrading polypeptides and of partially releasing theN-linked glycans from ribonuclease-B. Initially, glycopeptides are produced, the peptide portion of which consists of several amino acids, which are further hydrolyzed to yield a mixture of glyco-asparagines and oligosaccharide-alditols in the ratio of 4:1. Strong alkaline borohydride treatment of ribonuclease-B is capable of completely releasing theN-linked carbohydrates as oligosaccharide-alditols.Abbreviation RNase ribonuclease     

An evaluation of techniques for labelling the surface proteins of cultured mammalian cells

We have evaluated four techniques for labelling the surface proteins of cultured mammalian cells. The techniques are: (a) the lactoperoxide system; (b) the pyridoxal phosphate-[³H]borohydride system; (c) the [³H]4,4′-diisothiocyano-2,2′-dihydrostilbene disulfonate system and (d) the galactose oxidase-[³H]borohydride system. The subcellular distribution of radiolabel produced by these techniques has been evaluated by authoradiography at the light microscope level and by cellular fractionation. We find that while all four systems label the surface membranes in the majority of the cell population, they also heavily label internal sites in a small subpopulation of nonviable cells. The contribution of the internally labelled cells to further biochemical analysis may represent a severe problem in investigations which rely solely on surface labels for the study of plasma membrane organization     

Evidence for the formation of a gamma-phosphorylated glutamyl residue in the Escherichia coli acetate kinase reaction

Studies of phosphorylated $\text{Escherichia coli}$ acetate kinase, which has been reduced with [³H]sodium borohydride and subjected to acid hydrolysis, suggest that [³H] α-amino-δ-hydroxyvaleric acid is formed with a 20–25% overall yield. This finding is compatible with the formation of a γ-phosphorylated glutamyl residue upon incubation of enzyme with acetyl-P.     

A Novel Method for Chemical Modification of Functional Groups Other Than a Carboxyl Group in Proteins byN-Ethyl-5-phenylisooxazolium-3′-sulfonate (Woodward's Reagent-K): Inhibition of ADP-Induced Platelet Responses Involves Covalent Modification of Aggregin, an ADP Receptor

The chemical reaction ofN-ethyl-5-phenylisooxazolium-3′-sulfonate (Woodward's Reagent-K, WR-K) with a carboxyl group yields an enol ester that cannot be reduced by sodium borohydride in an aqueous solution, while other nucleophiles such as sulfhydryl, hydroxyl, amino, and imidazole groups, react with WR-K to yield unsaturated ketones that are capable of being reduced by sodium borohydride in an aqueous medium. Aggregin, a 100-kDa protein on the surface of human blood platelets has been identified as an ADP receptor. Autoradiography of the gels obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the samples of solubilized human blood platelets modified by WR-K and then reduced by tritiated sodium borohydride (NaB[³H]₄) showed the presence of a prominent band corresponding to a 100-kDa radiolabeled protein. Labeling of platelets by WR-K and NaB[³H]₄was inhibited by ADP, ATP, and thiol group modifying reagents. WR-K blocked completely labeling of platelets by [β-³²P]-8-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxo-butylthio)adenosine-5′-diphosphate, an ADP-affinity analog that selectively and covalently labels aggregin (Puri, R. N., Kumar, A., Chen, H., Colman, R. F., and Colman, R. W. (1995)J. Biol. Chem.256, 24482–24488). WR-K also inhibited ADP-induced platelet shape change, aggregation, and mobilization of intracellular Ca²⁺and blocked ADP-induced inhibition of stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The results show conclusively that WR-K inhibited ADP-induced platelet responses by preventing binding of ADP to aggregin and suggest that ADP binding domain of aggregin contains an essential thiol group. The method of labeling proteins by WR-K and NaB[³H]₄, hitherto not used to distinguish among functional groups modified by WR-K, offers a useful and convenient alternative to previously used ultraviolet spectral methods which cannot be used to investigate the modified proteins in intact cellular systems.     

The aromatization of (7 -3H) androstenedione by human placental mitochondria

A metabolite of 2,3-dihydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one-6, 7-³H isolated from rat bile, was partially characterized by mass spectrometry as a methyl ether of 2,3,16-trihydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one. The α configuration of the 16-hydroxy function was established by chromatographic comparison of the sodium borohydride reduced metabolite with synthetic 2-methoxy-estra-1, 3,5(10)-triene-3,16α,17β-triol and 2-methoxy-estra-1, 3,5(10)-triene-3,16β,17β-triol. The methyl group was located on the C-2 position by comparison with authentic 2- and 3- monomethyl ethers of 2,3-dihydroxy-estra-1, 3,5(10)-trien-17-one following pyrolytic removal of the 16α-hydroxyl group.3,16α-dihydroxy-2-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one was found to constitute 2% and 15% of the biliary radioactivity following administration of estrone-6,7-³H and 2,3-dihydroxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-one-6,7-³H respectively.     

Galactosyl residue in exopolysaccharide from Rhizobium meliloti JJ-1 exposed to manganese is furanoid

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) elaborated by Rhizobium meliloti JJ-1 in a manganese supplemented medium was isolated. Periodate oxidation, reduction with sodium borohydride, followed by hydrolysis and subsequent capillary gas liquid chromatography of the derived alditol acetates revealed that D-galactose in this complex biopolymer is in furanoid form. This observation was further confirmed by ¹³carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR).