Inactivation of Enzymes by Linoleic Acid Hydroperoxides and Linoleic Acid

The inactivation of the enzymes by linoleic acid hydroperoxides (LAHPO) was tested in connection with the toxicity of oxidized fat. At the same time, the inhibition of enzyme activities by linoleic acid was also tested. Ribonuclease (RNase), trypsin, chymotrypsin and pepsin which are considered to be simple proteins and not to be SH-enzymes were chosen as the enzymes. RNase was largely inhibited by LAHPO, but the other enzymes were inhibited by linoleic acid as well as LAHPO. The inhibition of each enzyme occurred at different pH. This fact may show that the inhibition occurs by binding of such hydrophobic compounds to the enzyme, and that the surface exposition of hydrophobic region may depend on the pH. Not only the reaction of some specific amino acid residue in the protein molecules with LAHPO, but also the binding of these hydrophobic compounds must be remembered in the mechanism of inhibition.     

Site-specific cleavage of double-strand DNA by hydroperoxide of linoleic acid

The breakage of double-strand (ds) DNA by 13-L-hydroperoxy-cis-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid (LAHPO) was investigated by agarose gel electrophoresis of supercoiled pBR322 DNA and the site of cleavage on the DNA molecule was determined by the method of DNA sequence analysis using 3'-end and 5'-end-labeled DNA fragments as substrates. LAHPO caused cleavage at the position of guanine nucleotide in dsDNA. LAHPO caused dsDNA breaks at specific sites, but linoleic acid (LA) and 13-L-hydroxy-cis-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid (LAHO) have no such effects on dsDNA. The active oxygen atom of the hydroperoxy group of LAHPO was perhaps responsible for the site-specific cleavage of dsDNA.     

Measurement of Binding of Ascorbic Acid to Myrosinase by Rate of Dialysis

The antioxidative activities of l-amino acids on the methylene blue sensitized photooxidation of linoleic acid (LA) were studied in a 40% aqueous ethanol solution at pH 7.0 and 33°C. His and CysH inhibited the photosensitized oxidation of LA, and the antioxidative activity of His was larger than that of CysH. The ratio of the chemical reaction rate constant for His and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) to that for LA and ¹O₂ was similar to the ratio of the ¹O₂ quenching rate constant for His to that for LA. This fact shows that His inhibits the photosensitized oxidation of LA by quenching ¹0₂ chemically.

On the other hand, CysH reacted with linoleic acid hydroperoxides (LAHPO) or with and caused the decomposition of LAHPO or the formation of Cys. This fact suggests that CysH inhibits the photosensitized oxidation of LA by decomposing LAHPO or by quenching ¹O₂ chemically.     

The Isolation and Characterization of N-Methyltyramine,Tyramine and Hordenine from Sawa Millet Seeds

Some differences between linoleic acid hydroperoxides (LAHPO) and their secondary products in their function in cell damage were determined. E. coli cells were incubated with the autooxidized products of linoleic acid-l-¹⁴C; hydroperoxides and their secondary products. At 0 hr the secondary products showed a higher tendency to adhere to the cell surface, compared with LAHPO. The distribution of radioactivity in the precipitate and the soluble fractions showed that a major portion of the radioactivity incorporated was contained in the soluble fraction in the case of LAHPO, while in the case of the secondary products the radioactivity was contained mostly in the precipitate fraction. A positive relationship between a lowering of the inhibitory effect and a decrease in the incorporation was observed in the case of LAHPO when antioxidants were added to the reaction system. No such effect was observed with the secondary products.

These results may show that the inhibition of growth by LAHPO is due to a radical-type reaction accompanied by the penetration of LAHPO into the cell sap, while the inhibition of growth by the secondary products may be due to a different type of reaction which includes non-specific adsorption to the cell surface.     

LEUKOCYTE PPD-PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY WITH POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACID HYDROPEROXIDES: NORMAL VALUES IN BATTEN''S DISEASE

Abstract— The activity of leukocyte p -phenylenediamine (PPD)-dependent peroxidase with respect to 3 peroxidic substrates was investigated in three patients with Batten's disease (ceroid-lipofuscinosis) as compared with normal controls: 1. The activity of PPD-peroxidase, using H₂O₂ as the peroxidic substrate, was found to be normal in our patients with Batten's disease. 2. PPD-peroxidase was shown to be active towards arachidonic acid hydroperoxide (AAHPO) and linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAHPO) as peroxidic substrates. No difference could be detected between patients and normals. 3. Determination of Michaelis constants with respect to H₂O₂, AAHPO and LAHPO in normal leukocytes revealed that PPD-peroxidase was more active towards AAHPO (lower K _m) than towards LAHPO. The same kinetic properties were found for PPD-peroxidase in patients with ceroid-lipofuscinosis.     

The peroxidase nature of cytochrome P-420 utilizing a lipid peroxide substrate

The peroxidase properties of cytochrome P-420, in its “high spin” and “low spin” forms, have been investigated using N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) as hydrogen donor, linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAHPO) as substrate, and a preparation of cytochrome P-420 from hepatic microsomal “P-450 particles” as catalyst. The peroxidase reaction was found to be first order with respect to P-420 concentration and first order with respect to LAHPO concentration. Of the various hydroperoxides tested, only LAHPO was found to serve as a substrate for P-420.     

Insulin at pH 2: structural analysis of the conditions promoting insulin fibre formation

When insulin solutions are subjected to acid, heat and agitation, the normal pattern of insulin assembly (dimers-->tetramers-->hexamers) is disrupted; the molecule undergoes conformational changes allowing it to follow an alternative aggregation pathway (via a monomeric species) leading to the formation of insoluble amyloid fibres. To investigate the effect of acid pH on the conformation and aggregation state of the protein, the crystal structure of human insulin at pH 2.1 has been determined to 1.6 A resolution. The structure reveals that the native fold is maintained at low pH, and that the molecule is still capable of forming dimers similar to those found in hexameric insulin structures at higher pH. Sulphate ions are incorporated into the molecule and the crystal lattice where they neutralise positive charges on the protein, stabilising its structure and facilitating crystallisation. The sulphate interactions are associated with local deformations in the protein, which may indicate that the structure is more plastic at low pH. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of insulin fibres reveals that the appearance of the fibres is greatly influenced by the type of acid employed. Sulphuric acid produces distinctive highly bunched, truncated fibres, suggesting that the sulphate ions have a sophisticated role to play in fibre formation, rather as they do in the crystal structure. Analytical ultracentrifugation studies show that in the absence of heating, insulin is predominantly dimeric in mineral acids, whereas in acetic acid the equilibrium is shifted towards the monomer. Hence, the effect of acid on the aggregation state of insulin is also complex. These results suggest that acid conditions increase the susceptibility of the molecule to conformational change and dissociation, and enhance the rate of fibrillation by providing a charged environment in which the attractive forces between the protein molecules is increased.     

Increased urinary excretion of 1-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide in rats administered 2-acetylaminofluorene.

The onset of fat accumulation within CCl₄ poisoned hepatocytes, occurring as early as 1 h after treatment, is known to be provoked by a block in lipoprotein secretion. Lipoprotein secretion involves the function of the microtubular system. Several data indicate that this early block in lipoprotein secretion is not primarily the consequence of impaired protein synthesis. Therefore effects of some derivatives of lipid peroxidation, i.e. aldehydes and linoleic acid hydroperoxide were investigated.The results described in this paper shown that the above mentioned lipid peroxidation derivatives inhibit, with different activities, [³H]colchicine binding to liver high-speed supernates. Percentage binding inhibition is directly related to concentrations of aldehydes or LAHPO. LAHPO is more effective than aldehydes. Among the aldehydes tested, 4-hydroxypentenal, produced during lipid peroxidation of biological materials, was the most active.The presence of thiols, added to the incubation medium, partially protects against the inhibition of [³H]colchicine binding by aldehydes. This suggests that aldehydes act by reacting with -SH groups of tubulin. The possibility that interaction between lipoperoxidation derivatives and tubulin in vivo may contribute to the onset of fat infiltration in CCl₄ poisoning is discussed.     

Structural and thermodynamic consequences of removal of a conserved disulfide bond from equine beta-lactoglobulin

A disulfide bond between cysteine 66 and cysteine 160 of equine beta-lactoglobulin was removed by substituting cysteine residues with alanine. This disulfide bond is conserved across the lipocalin family. The conformation and stability of the disulfide-deleted mutant protein was investigated by circular dichroism. The mutant protein assumes a native-like structure under physiological conditions and assumes a helix-rich molten globule structure at acid pH or at moderate concentrations of urea as the wild-type protein does. The urea-induced unfolding experiment shows that the stability of the native conformation was reduced but that of the molten globule intermediate is not significantly changed at pH 4 by removal of the disulfide bond. On the other hand, the molten globule at acid pH was destabilized by removal of the disulfide bond. This difference in the stabilizing effect of the disulfide bond was interpreted by the effect of the disulfide in keeping the molecule compact against the electrostatic repulsion at acid pH. In contrast to the wild-type protein, the circular dichroism spectrum in the molten globule state at acid pH depends on anion concentration, suggesting that the expansion of the molecule through electrostatic repulsion induces alpha-helices as observed in the cold denatured state of the wild-type protein.     

Characterization of a partially folded intermediate of stem bromelain at low pH.

Equilibrium studies on the acid included denaturation of stem bromelain (EC 3.4.22.32) were performed by CD spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy and binding of the hydrophobic dye, 1-anilino 8-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS). At pH 2.0, stem bromelain lacks a well defined tertiary structure as seen by fluorescence and near-UV CD spectra. Far-UV CD spectra show retention of some native like secondary structure at pH 2.0. The mean residue ellipticities at 208 nm plotted against pH showed a transition around pH 4.5 with loss of secondary structure leading to the formation of an acid-unfolded state. With further decrease in pH, this unfolded state regains most of its secondary structure. At pH 2.0, stem bromelain exists as a partially folded intermediate containing about 42.2% of the native state secondary structure Enhanced binding of ANS was observed in this state compared to the native folded state at neutral pH or completely unfolded state in the presence of 6 m GdnHCl indicating the exposure of hydrophobic regions on the protein molecule. Acrylamide quenching of the intrinsic tryptophan residues in the protein molecule showed that at pH 2.0 the protein is in an unfolded conformation with more tryptophan residues exposed to the solvent as compared to the native conformation at neutral pH. Interestingly, stem bromelain at pH 0.8 exhibits some characteristics of a molten globule, such as an enhanced ability to bind the fluorescent probe as well as considerable retention of secondary structure. All the above data taken together suggest the existence of a partially folded intermediate state under low pH conditions.     

Nucleic acid induced unfolding of recombinant prion protein globular fragment is pH dependent

Nucleic acid can catalyze the conversion of α‐helical cellular prion protein to β‐sheet rich Proteinase K resistant prion protein oligomers and amyloid polymers in vitro and in solution. Because unfolding of a protein molecule from its ordered α‐helical structure is considered to be a necessary step for the structural conversion to its β‐sheet rich isoform, we have studied the unfolding of the α‐helical globular 121–231 fragment of mouse recombinant prion protein in the presence of different nucleic acids at neutral and acid pH. Nucleic acids, either single or double stranded, do not have any significant effect on the secondary structure of the protein fragment at neutral pH; however the protein secondary structure is modified by the nucleic acids at pH 5. Nucleic acids do not show any significant effect on the temperature induced unfolding of the globular prion protein domain at neutral pH which, however, undergoes a gross conformational change at pH 5 as evidenced from the lowering of the midpoint of thermal denaturation temperatures, Tm, of the protein. The extent of Tm decrease shows a dependence on the nature of nucleic acid. The interaction of nucleic acid with the nonpolar groups exposed from the protein interior at pH 5 probably contributes substantially to the unfolding process of the protein.     

Conformational states of annexin VI in solution induced by acidic pH

Acidic pH-induced folding of annexin (Anx)VI in solution was investigated in order to study the mechanism of formation of ion channels by the protein in membranes. Using 2-(p-toluidino)naphthalene-6-sulfonic acid as a hydrophobic probe, it was demonstrated that AnxVI exerts a large change in hydrophobicity at acidic pH. Moreover, circular dichroism spectra indicated that the native state of AnxVI changes at acidic pH towards a state characterized by a significant loss of alpha-helix content and appearance of new beta-structures. These changes are reversible upon an increase of pH. It is postulated that the structural folding of AnxVI could explain how a soluble protein may undergo transition into a molecule able to penetrate the membrane hydrophobic region. The physiological significance of these observations is discussed.     

Studies on the Mechanism of Activation of Pepsinogen

The mechanism of activation of pepsinogen was studied. It was found that no peptide bond cleavage occurred in the molecule of denatured pepsinogen at pH 2. It was inferred from this that a specific secondary and tertiary structure is formed in the molecule of pepsinogen in acid and that it might be necessary for the hydrolysis of the peptide bond. From the circular dichroism studies on pepsinogen and pepsin, it was found that there is a conformational change in the molecule of pepsinogen at pH 4.3~4.5 and that this change is followed by a gradual formation of pepsin.     

Vanadate monomers and dimers both inhibit the human prostatic acid phosphatase

A combination of enzyme kinetics and 51V NMR spectroscopy was used to identify the species of vanadate that inhibits acid phosphatases. Monomeric vanadate was shown to inhibit wheat germ and potato acid phosphatases. At pH 5.5, the vanadate dimer inhibits the human prostatic acid phosphatase whereas at pH 7.0 it is the vanadate monomer that inhibits this enzyme. The pH-dependent shift in the affinity of the prostatic phosphatase for vanadate is presumably due to deprotonation of an amino acid side chain in or near the binding site resulting in a conformational change in the protein. pH may be a subtle effector of the insulin-like vanadate activity in biological systems and may explain some of the differences in selectivity observed with the protein phosphatases.     

聚丙烯酸分离纯化苦瓜种仁碱性蛋白的方法及影响因素

以苦瓜籽为材料,研究了聚丙烯酸分离纯化苦瓜种仁碱性蛋白的方法及影响因素。等电点沉淀试验表明,柠檬酸、盐酸分别调节苦瓜种仁粗提液pH至6.0、4.0时,各有14.62%和32.49%的苦瓜种仁蛋白被沉淀。醋酸的等电点沉淀作用呈现阶段性特点,pH6.0和4.0时分别有26.17%和38.72%的苦瓜种仁蛋白被沉淀。醋酸、盐酸和柠檬酸处理的1mL苦瓜种仁粗提液(pH4.0),1%PAA选择性沉淀碱性蛋白(等电点pI为8.65~9.30)的最佳用量分别为100μL、120μL和100μL。醋酸调节苦瓜种仁粗提液pH分别至5.0、4.0和3.0,等电点沉淀后的上清液用PAA沉淀碱性蛋白,当PAA(1%)用量为160μL/mL提取液时,pH5.0和3.0样液分别有33.77%和43.56%蛋白质被沉淀;当PAA用量为120μL/mL提取液时,pH4.0样液中30.83%蛋白质被沉淀。PAA-蛋白质复合物溶解于碱性溶液(pH>9.0),当溶液NaCl浓度为3.0%时,溶液蛋白质浓度最高。PAA选择性沉淀的苦瓜种仁碱性蛋白经SephadexG-75柱层析分离,分别在175min和300min出现主峰Ⅰ和Ⅱ。SDS-PAGE和IEF分析表明主峰Ⅰ的分子量约为30kD,pI值约为9.5,主峰Ⅱ的分子量约为10kD,pI值约为9.3。     

Three-dimensional structure of endo-1,4-beta-xylanase II from Trichoderma reesei: two conformational states in the active site.

The three-dimensional structure of endo-1,4-beta-xylanase II (XYNII) from Trichoderma reesei has been determined by X-ray diffraction techniques and refined to a conventional R-factor of 18.3% at 1.8 A resolution. The 190 amino acid length protein was found to exist as a single domain where the main chain folds to form two mostly antiparallel beta-sheets, which are packed against each other in parallel. The beta-sheet structure is twisted, forming a large cleft on one side of the molecule. The structure of XYNII resembles that of Bacillus 1,3-1,4-beta-glucanase. The cleft is an obvious suggestion for an active site, which has putative binding sites for at least four xylose residues. The catalytic residues are apparently the two glutamic acid residues (Glu86 and Glu177) in the middle of the cleft. One structure was determined at pH 5.0, corresponding to the pH optimum of XYNII. The second structure was determined at pH 6.5, where enzyme activity is reduced considerably. A clear structural change was observed, especially in the position of the side chain of Glu177. The observed conformational change is probably important for the mechanism of catalysis in XYNII.     

Purification and some properties of cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase from sheep liver

1. A procedure for the purification of the cytoplasmic isoenzyme of aspartate aminotransferase from sheep liver is described. 2. The purified isoenzyme shows a single component in the ultracentrifuge at pH7.6 and forms a single protein band on agar-gel electrophoresis at pH6.3 or 8.6, as well as when stained for protein or activity after polyacrylamide-gel or cellulose acetate electrophoresis at pH8.8. 3. Immunoelectrophoresis on agar gel yields only one precipitin arc associated with the protein band, with rabbit antiserum to the purified isoenzyme. By immunodiffusion, cross-reaction was detected between the cytoplasmic isoenzymes from sheep liver and pig heart, but not between the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial sheep liver isoenzymes. 4. The s(20,w) of the enzyme is 5.69S and the molecular weight determined by sedimentation equilibrium is 88900; 19313 molecules of oxaloacetate were formed/min per molecule of enzyme at pH7.4 and 25 degrees C. 5. The amino acid composition of the isoenzyme is presented. It has about 790 residues per molecule. 6. The holoenzyme has a maximum of absorption at 362nm at pH7.6 and 25 degrees C. 7. A value of 2.1 was found for the coenzyme/enzyme molar ratio. 8. The purified enzyme revealed two bands of activity on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis at pH7.4 and an extra, faster, band in some circumstances. These bands occurred even when dithiothreitol was present throughout the isolation procedure. 9. Three main bands were obtained by electrofocusing on polyacrylamide plates with pI values 5.75, 5.56 and 5.35. 10. Structural similarities with cytoplasmic isoenzymes from other organs are discussed.     

The origin of the alkaline inactivation of pepsinogen.

Above pH 8.5, pepsinogen is converted into a form which cannot be activated to pepsin on exposure to low pH. Intermediate exposure to neutral pH, however, returns the protein to a form which can be activated. Evidence is presented for a reversible, small conformational change in the molecule, distinct from the unfolding of the protein. At the same time, the molecule is converted to a form of limited solubility, which is precipitated at low pH, where activation is normally seen. The results are interpreted in terms of the peculiar structure of the pepsinogen molecule. Titration of the basic NH2-terminal region produced an open form, which can return to the native form at neutral pH, but which is maintained at low pH by neutralization of carboxylate groups in the pepsin portion.     

The Viscometric Behavior of a Natto Mucin in Solution

The 2% solution of a natto mucin behaved as a thixotropic flow at pH 5.7, although the flow of the same concentration was apparently Newtonian at pH 4.3. In the 6% solution the viscometric behavior at pH 4.3 was almost the same as that at pH 5.7. The results can be explained in terms of the conformational change of the molecule according to the pH change; that is, the mucin molecule is randomly coiled at pH 5.7 and a rod-like molecule at pH 4.3. The conformational change was shown by means of the electron microscope.     

The effect of chemical modifications induced in insulin on the reactivity of the interchain disulphide bonds towards sodium sulphite

The reactivity of the three disulphide bridges of insulin towards sodium sulphite was studied by amperometric titration of the liberated thiol groups. In the native, acetylated or succinylated molecule two bridges react at pH7, but in the methylated or phenylcarbamoylated molecule only one bridge reacts. All three bridges react in all derivatives in 8m-urea or at pH9. Loss in biological activity parallels the loss in reactivity of one of the bridges during methylation. It is suggested that change in reactivity of the S.S bonds reflects the occurrence of a conformational modification of the protein. The possibility is discussed that the unusually high reactivity of the S.S bonds in native insulin depends strictly on the integrity of the native molecule, suggesting that S.S bonds are in some way involved in the hormone's mode of action.