Evidence for naturally occurring hyaluronic acid binding protein in rat liver

Hyaluronic acid binding protein (HBP) was purified homogeneously from normal adult rat liver by hyaluronate-sepharose affinity chromatography. The molecular weight of this protein as determined by gel filtration was found to be 64,000 daltons. This protein HBP appeared as a single band in non-dissociating gel electrophoresis and has a subunit of molecular weight approximately 12,000 as determined by SDS-gel electrophoresis.     

Cytidine deaminase from Escherichia coli B. Purification and enzymatic and molecular properties

Cytidine deaminase (cytidine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.5) from Escherichia coli has been purified to homogeneity through a rapid and efficient two-step procedure consisting of anion-exchange chromatography followed by preparative electrophoresis. The final preparation is homogeneous, as judged by a single band obtained by disc gel electrophoresis performed in the absence and presence of denaturing agents. The native protein molecular weight determined by gel filtration is 56 000. Sodium dodecyl sulfate disc gel electrophoresis experiments conducted upon previous incubation of the enzyme with dimethyl suberimidate suggest an oligomeric structure of two identical subunits of 33 000 molecular weight. The absorption spectrum of the protein reveals a maximum at 277 nm and a minimum at 255 nm. The isoelectric point is at pH 4.35. Amino acid analysis indicates an excess of acidic amino acid residues as well as six half-cystine residues. No interchain disulfide groups have been evidenced. According to Cleland's nomenclature, kinetic analysis shows a rapid-equilibrium random Uni-Bi mechanism. Cytidine deaminase is competitively inhibited by various nucleosides. Km values for cytidine, deoxycytidine, and 5-methylcytidine are 1.8 X 10(-4), 0.9 X 10(-4), and 12.5 X 10(-4) M, respectively.     

Purification of the Epstein-Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen from Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human lymphoid cell lines.

The Epstein-Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) was purified from extracts of the human lymphoid cell lines Raji, Namalwa, and B95-8/MLD by two different methods. In the first approach, the apparently native antigen was purified 1,200-fold by a four-step procedure involving DNA-cellulose chromatography, blue dexptran-agarose chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, and gel filtration, employing complement fixation as the assay procedure. Such EBNA preparations specifically inhibited the anticomplement immunofluorescence test for EBNA and bound to methanol/acetic acid-fixed metaphase chromosomes. The purified antigen, which has a molecular weight of 170,000 to 200,000, yielded a single protein band of molecular weight about 48,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These data indicate that native EBNA has a tetrameric structure. In the second purification method, EBNA-containing cell extracts containing radioactively labeled proteins were incubated with anti-EBNA-positive sera, and antigen-antibody complexes were adsorbed to matrix-bound staphylococcal protein A. The bound proteins were then released with an SDS-containing buffer, and denatured EBNA was separated from antibody chains by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualized by fluorography. The denatured EBNA obtained in radiochemically pure form by this procedure has a molecular weight of about 48,000, so both methods yield an EBNA monomer of the same size.     

Semisynthetic β-lactam antibiotics synthesizing enzyme from Acetobacter turbidans: purification and properties

Semisynthetic cephalosporin synthesizing enzyme has been purified from cell-free extract of Acetobacter turbidans ATCC 9325 by ion-exchange, hydrophobic chromatography and gel filtration. The purified enzyme migrated as two bands on SDS-gel electrophoresis and as six bands on native gel electrophoresis. This enzyme has an isoelectric point at 5.8 and contains most of the essential amino acids. The molecular weight was estimated to be 280 000 to 290 000 by gel filtration. Two different subunits of this enzyme having molecular weights of 70 000 and 72 000 have been identified in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. The purified enzyme favours the synthetic reaction over the hydrolytic reaction by a factor of 2.6 times, as determined by the ratio of relative activities.     

Purification and subunit structure of recBC DNase from Escherichia coli harboring a recB and recC genes-inserted plasmid

recBC DNase of Escherichia coli has been purified from the transformant, HB101/pFS11-04 (recB+ recC+), by successive ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, Sephadex G-150 gel filtration, hydroxyapatite chromatography, DNA cellulose affinity chromatography, and second DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The purified enzyme was obtained in an overall yield of 3%. The enzyme protein appeared as a single pure component on native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional electrophoresis. The results show that recBC DNase consists of two nonidentical subunits with molecular weights of 125,000 and 135,000, and isoelectric points of 5.6 and 5.7, respectively.     

Thermodynamic characterization of hog kidney D-amino acid oxidase apoenzyme in concentrated guanidine hydrochloride solution. Preferential interaction with the solvent components and the molecular weight of the monomeric unit

This paper describes the physical characterization of the monomeric unit of hog kidney D-amino acid oxidase apoenzyme in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) solution by means of differential refractometry, densimetry, light scattering, equilibrium sedimentation, and high-speed gel filtration chromatography. In 6 M GuHCl solution, the oxidase interacts preferentially with GuHCl: the values of the preferential interaction parameter are 0.11 +/- 0.03 (S.D.) g/g of protein by densimetry and 0.14 +/- 0.04 g/g of protein by refractometry. The volume change, delta V, of the oxidase on transfer from the native to the denatured state is -350 ml/mol. The molecular weight of the monomeric apoenzyme is 39,600 +/- 1,700 by light scattering and 38,000 +/- 1,200 by high-speed equilibrium sedimentation. The values of the molecular weight estimated by the empirical methods, i.e., sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and high-speed gel filtration chromatography in 6 M GuHCl, agree well with those obtained by the thermodynamic methods mentioned above. These results confirm definitely that the complex of the apoenzyme with SDS normally behaves in the same manner as those of standard proteins in SDS-gel electrophoresis. This is also supported in this study by the analysis of the electrophoretic data at several gel concentrations by Ferguson plots. The molecular weight of quasi-D-amino acid oxidase apoenzyme was also examined by the empirical methods.     

Isolation and physical characterization of bovine lens crystallins.

The soluble proteins from bovine lens homogenate were separated on Sepharose CL-6B (2 X 200 cm) in 0.05 M tris-NaHSO3 pH 8.2 buffer containing 20 mM EDTA. Five sharp and defined fractions (HM alpha, alpha, beta H, beta L, gamma) were obtained. Each crystallin fraction was further purified by rechromatography on the same column. Each protein fraction was pure as judged by ultracentrifugation and SDS-gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of the five fractions were 3.04 x 10(6), 5.83 x 10(5), 1.58 x 10(5) , 4.59 x 10(4), 2.14 x 10(4) as determined from sedimentation coefficient and intrinsic viscosity data by Scheraga-Mandelkern equation, which was in close agreement with that obtained by gel filtration. The polypeptide composition of crystallins as determined by SDS-gel electrophoresis revealed one band for high molecular weight alpha (HM alpha) and alpha, three for beta H, two for beta L and one for gamma. The gross CD patterns of crystallins were about the same in the peptide region (200 nm similar to or approximately 250 nm) with a minimum centered at about 217 nm, indicative of a beta-sheet structure in all crystallins. The [theta] values at 217 nm ranged from --1700 to --3700 degrees cm2 per decimole. The CD spectra of these crystallins in the aromatic region (250 nm similar to or approximately 300 nm) were different, reflecting the different contributions of aromatic amino acids to the tertiary structure of crystallins.     

Porcine A blood group-specific N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase. I. Purification from porcine submaxillary glands.

The membrane-bound N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase from porcine submaxillary glands which provides A blood group specificity to mucin has been purified 38,000-fold by affinity chromatography on UDP-hesanolamine-agarose in aqueous Triton X-100. Design of a suitable purification procedure was developed by assessing the strength of interaction between enzyme and affinity adsorbent using batch desorption. The pure transferase has an apparent molecular weight of 100,000 as judged by zonal centrifugation and by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the absence of a reducing agent. The reduced and carboxymethylated protein has an apparent molecular weight of 46,000 and 57,000 as judged by sedimentation equilibrium and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, respectively, suggesting that the native enzyme contains two subunits. It is a glycoprotein with a specific activity of 30 micronmol/min/mg of enzyme, which is 55,000 times that reported for the same enzyme isolated from human serum.     

The sodium channel from rat brain. Separation and characterization of subunits

Procedures are described for separation of the alpha, beta 1, and beta 2 subunits of the voltage-sensitive sodium channel from rat brain by gel filtration in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) before and after reduction of intersubunit disulfide bonds or by preparative SDS-gel electrophoresis. Partial proteolytic maps of the SDS-denatured subunits indicate that they are nonidentical polypeptides. They are all heavily glycosylated and contain complex carbohydrate chains that bind wheat germ agglutinin. The apparent molecular weights of the separated subunits were estimated by gradient SDS-gel electrophoresis, by Ferguson analysis of migration in SDS gels of fixed acrylamide concentration, or by gel filtration in SDS or guanidine hydrochloride. For the alpha subunit, SDS-gel electrophoresis under various conditions gives an average Mr of 260,000. Gel filtration methods give anomalously low values. Removal of carbohydrate by sequential treatment with neuraminidase and endoglycosidase F results in a sharp protein band with apparent Mr = 220,000, suggesting that 15% of the mass of the native alpha subunit is carbohydrate. Electrophoretic and gel filtration methods yield consistent molecular weight estimates for the beta subunits. The average values are: beta 1, Mr = 36,000, and beta 2, Mr = 33,000. Deglycosylation by treatment with endoglycosidase F, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, or HF yields sharp protein bands with apparent Mr = 23,000 and 21,000 for the beta 1 and beta 2 subunits, respectively, suggesting that 36% of the mass of the native beta 1 and beta 2 subunits is carbohydrate.     

Purification and characterization of thermophilin T, a novel bacteriocin produced by Streptococcus thermophilus ACA-DC 0040

ACA-DC 0040 produced an antimicrobial agent, which was named thermophilin T, active against several lactic acid bacteria strains of different species and food spoilage bacteria, such as Clostridium sporogenes C22/10 and Cl. tyrobutyricum NCDO-1754. The crude antimicrobial compound is sensitive to proteolytic enzymes and α-amylase, heat-stable (100 °C for 30 min), resistant to pH exposure at pH 1–12 and demonstrates a bactericidal mode of action against the sensitive strain Lactococcus cremoris CNRZ-117. The production of bacteriocin was optimized approximately 10-fold in an aerobic fermenter held at constant pH 5·8 and 6·2. Ultrafiltration experiments with culture supernatant fluids containing the bacteriocin, and further estimation of molecular weight with gel filtration chromatography, revealed that bacteriocin in the native form has a molecular weight in excess of 300 kDa. SDS-gel electrophoresis of partially purified thermophilin T showed that bacteriocin activity was associated with a protein band of approximately 2·5 kDa molecular mass.     

Purification and molecular characterization of adenovirus type 2 DNA-binding protein.

An adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) DNA-binding protein was purified by sequential DNA-cellulose, Sephadex G-200, and DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, with a yield of 120 mug of binding protein (95 to 99% homogeneity) starting with 2 X 10(9) infected cells. By omitting the Sephadex G-200 step, 400 to 600 mug of 95% pure binding protein was obtained. To obtain high yields of highly purified binding protein, it was necessary to include deoxycholate and Nonidet P-40 at selected stages during the preparation. The highly purified binding protein appeared to have retained its native stage as indicated by: (i) binding to single-stranded but not native Ad2 DNA, (ii) almost complete precipitation by immunoglobulin G from hamsters immunized by extracts of tumors induced by Ad2-simian virus 40 hybrid viruses, and (iii) identical sedimentation coefficient with binding protein obtained from DNA-cellulose chromatography only. Zonal centrifugation in sucrose gradients and gel filtration revealed that purified binding protein has a sedimentation coefficient of 3.4S and a Stokes radius of 5.2 nm. Based on these two values, a molecular weight of 73,000 was calculated, in agreement with the estimate from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A frictional ratio of 1.88 was calculated, suggesting that the Ad2 DNA-binding protein does not have a typical globular protein structure.     

Soluble guanylate cyclase from rat lung exists as a heterodimer

The soluble form of guanylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.2) from rat lung has been purified to homogeneity by a one-step immunoaffinity chromatographic procedure. The purified soluble guanylate cyclase has specific activities of 432 and 49.1 nmol of cyclic GMP formed per min/mg protein with manganese and magnesium ions as a cofactor, respectively. This represents a purification of approximately 2,000-fold with a 50% recovery. The native enzyme has a molecular weight of 150,000 and a Stokes radius of 4.8 nm as determined on Spherogel TSK-G3000SW gel permeation chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis results in two protein-staining bands with molecular weights of 82,000 and 70,000. The purified soluble guanylate cyclase was also subjected to native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, ion exchange chromatography, and GTP-agarose affinity chromatography. These additional purification procedures confirmed the presence of a single protein peak coincident with enzyme activity. The two subunits separated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were shown to have different primary structures by immunoblotting with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies prepared against purified soluble guanylate cyclase and by peptide mapping with papain or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease treatment. These data demonstrate that soluble guanylate cyclase purified from rat lung is a heterodimer composed of 82,000- and 70,000-dalton subunits with different primary structures.     

Purification and characterization of human plasma glutathione peroxidase: a selenoglycoprotein distinct from the known cellular enzyme

Glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), (glutathione:H2O2 oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.9) was purified to homogeneity from human plasma. This resulted in a 6800-fold purification of the enzyme with a 2.8% yield. The purification process involved ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose batch and column chromatographies, hydroxyapatite, and Sephadex G-200 and DEAE-Sephadex A-25 chromatographies. The major peak on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 column chromatography was found to be homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence or absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Relative mobility in nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 8.2 was 0.5 for the purified enzyme as detected by both protein staining and enzyme activity compared with 0.38 for erythrocyte GSHPx. The molecular weight of the plasma enzyme as determined by gel filtration was found to be approximately 100,000. SDS-gel electrophoresis of the plasma enzyme gave a subunit molecular weight of approximately 23,000. This suggests that the plasma enzyme exists as a tetramer in its native state, similar to that seen for the erythrocyte enzyme, but with slightly different mobility on SDS-gel electrophoresis. Plasma GSHPx, like the erythrocyte enzyme, was found to contain approximately four atoms of selenium per mole of protein. Utilizing iodinated concanavalin A, it was found that plasma GSHPx, but not the erythrocyte GSPx, is a glycoprotein. Purified plasma enzyme catalyzes both the reduction of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide and hydrogen peroxide. The apparent Km of plasma GSHPx for GSH is 5.3 mM and for tertiary butyl hydroperoxide it is 0.57 mM. Copper, mercury, and zinc strongly inhibit the enzyme activity of plasma GSHPx. Rabbit antibodies directed against the human erythrocyte GSHPx do not precipitate the enzyme activity of the purified plasma enzyme. Radioimmunoassay utilizing erythrocyte GSHPx and anti-erythrocyte GSHPx antibodies showed that less than 0.13% of the antigenically detectable protein is found in the purified GSHPx from plasma.     

Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase from human brain: purification and partial characterization

A facile and rapid purification procedure, based upon the heat denaturation of extraneous proteins and GMP-Sepharose affinity chromatography, has been used to purify hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase from human brain. A homogeneous enzyme preparation, as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate and gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was obtained. The subunit molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated as 24,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The native molecular weight, determined by gradient gel electrophoresis, was approximately 100,000. These results suggest human brain hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase is a tetramer, consistent with recent results reported for the human erythrocyte enzyme. At least three charge variant forms of the human brain enzyme were distinguished by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, electrofocusing, and chromatofocusing. Acidic pI values of approximately 5.7, 5.5, and 5.0 were estimated for the three major species.     

The isolation and partial characterization of diphosphoglycerate mutase from human erythrocytes.

Diphosphoglycerate mutase has been purified to homogeneity from outdated human erythrocytes. The native enzyme has a molecular weight of 57 000 as determined by equilibrium centrifugation and exclusion chromatography. Disc gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate yields a single protein band with a molecular weight of about 26 500, indicating that diphosphoglycerate mutase is comprised of two subunits of similar mass. The enzyme exhibits the following intrinsic activities: diphosphoglyceratemutase, monophosphoglycerate mutase, and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate phosphatase. The latter activity is enhanced in the presence of either organic or inorganic anions. Glycolate-2-P, particularly, has a profound activating effect. Nonspecific phosphatase and enolase activities are absent. The enzyme has an extinction coefficient at 280 nm of 1.65 cm2/mg. The amino acid composition of the homogeneous protein has been determined.     

Isolation and characterization of allergens of Prosopis juliflora pollen grains

Proteins and glycoproteins from Prosopis juliflora (Pj) pollen grains were separated by gel filtration, electrophoresis, DEAE cellulose chromatography and their molecular weight was determined by gel filtration and SDS-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The allergenic activity of different fractions were evaluated by in vivo skin prick test and in vitro gel diffusion test. It was found that fraction E of gel filtration and fraction III and IV of DEAE cellulose chromatography were most allergenic. This fraction E of gel filtration showed positive reaction with periodic acid Schiff's reagent as determined by SDS-gel electrophoresis.     

Purification and characterization of a low molecular weight zinc binding protein from human placenta

A low molecular weight, native zinc binding, cytosolic protein (LMZP) has been isolated, purified and characterized from human normal term placenta. Gel filtration of heat treated placental cytosol after sequential acetone precipitation (80% ppt) revealed a major zinc binding protein in the range of low molecular weight. This partially purified zinc binding fraction was further fractionated on DEAE-Sephadex A-25. The zinc was eluted in one of the three peak fractions. Further, the purity of zinc binding protein was confirmed on fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). The purified placental LMZP was homogenous on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a single band. Ultraviolet (UV) spectrum of LMZP showed an absorption maximum at 257 nm which disappeared at pH 2. Molecular weight of LMZP as determined by gel chromatography, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and amino acid analysis was 6 kDa. It was calculated that 1 g atom of zinc was bound to 1 mole of the LMZP. Unlike in classical metallothionein, the amino acid composition of placental LMZP revealed the presence of aromatic amino acids, lower content of cysteine and higher content of histidine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid (10, 9 and 5 residues/mole, respectively).     

Chemical and biological properties of a growth factor from human-cultured osteosarcoma cells: Resemblance with platelet-derived growth factor

A human osteosarcoma cell line, U-2 OS, cultured under serumfree conditions, was shown to produce a growth factor (osteosarcoma-derived growth factor, ODGF) for human-cultured glial cells, fibroblasts, and other cells. ODGF, collected from the spent medium of 2 OS cultures, was purified by a sequence involving heparin-Sepharose chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, gel chromatography, and preparative gel electrophoresis in SDS. Purified ODGF, at a concentration of 3 ng/ml, elicited a mitogenic response in human glial cells equivalent to 50% of that afforded by human serum at a final concentration of 1%. The preparation was estimated to be > 50% pure. The biological activity of ODGF resided in a cationic, relatively heat-resistant, reduction-susceptible protein with a molecular weight of 30,000 (by gel chromatography and SDS-gel electrophoresis). The electrophoretic behaviour of radioiodinated ODGF suggested that the protein was composed of two different polypeptide chains (about 13,000-14,000 and 16,000-17,000 daltons, respectively) linked via disulphide bonds. The molecular makeup of ODGF was thus similar to that of platelet-derived growth factor. ¹²⁵I-ODGF could be precipitated by an antibody to platelet-derived growth factor, indicating that the two factors were immunologically related. Resemblance with platelet-derived growth factor was also indicated by the finding that the latter (but not, e.g., fibroblast growth factor or epidermal growth factor) competed with ¹²⁵I-ODGF for binding to human-cultured glial cells.     

Phosphoglycolate phosphatase. Purification and properties.

Phosphoglycolate phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.18) was purified 1500-fold from field-grown tobacco leaves by acetone fractionation, DEAE-cellulose and molecular sieve chromatography, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Preparations were judged 90 to 95% homogeneous by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and by isoelectric focusing. The highest specific activity obtained was 468 mumol of phosphate released/min/mg of protein. The native protein has a molecular weight of 80,500 by Ferguson plot analysis and 86,300 by sedimentation velocity on sucrose density gradients. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels gave a molecular weight of 20,700, indicating the P-glycolate phosphatase is a tetramer with identical or near identical subunits. The enzyme, freshly purified or in crude homogenates, had a pI of 3.8 to 3.9 pH units by isoelectric focusing. Phosphosphoglycolate phosphatase from spinach leaves has a molecular weight of 93,000 and, unlike the enzyme from tobacco leaves, it is extremely unstable after DEAE-cellulose chromatography and is inactivated by lipase (EC 3.1.1.3). The phosphatase from both plants was stabilized by the addition of citrate or isocitrate in the buffers. Ribose 5-phosphate is a competitive inhibitor of phosphoglycolate phosphatase at physiological concentration, while other phosphate esters of the photosynthetic carbon cycle were without effect.     

Histidinoalanine, a naturally occurring cross-link derived from phosphoserine and histidine residues in mineral-binding phosphoproteins

Native mineral-containing phosphoprotein particles were isolated from the Heterodont bivalve Macrocallista nimbosa. The native particles are discrete structures about 40 nm in diameter which migrate as a single band during electrophoresis in agarose gels. Removal of the mineral component with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dissociates the native protein into nonidentical subunits. The lower molecular weight subunits, representing 8% of the total protein, were obtained by differential centrifugation. The native protein is characterized by a high content of aspartic acid, phosphoserine, phosphothreonine, histidine, and the bifunctional cross-linking residue histidinoalanine. The low molecular weight subunits have the same amino acid composition except for a reduction in histidinoalanine and a corresponding increase in phosphoserine and histidine residues, demonstrating that the alanine portion of the cross-link is derived from phosphoserine residues. Ion-exchange chromatography and molecular sieve chromatography show that the low molecular weight subunits have a similar charge density but differ in molecular weight, and the relative mobilities of the subunits on agarose gels indicate that they are polymers of a single phosphoprotein molecule. The minimum molecular weight of the monomer is about 140 000 on the basis of the amino acid composition. The high molecular weight subunits are rich in histidinoalanine and too large to be resolved by either molecular sieve chromatography or gel electrophoresis. On the basis of the ultrastructural, electrophoretic, chromatographic, and compositional evidence, native phosphoprotein particles are composed of subunits ionically cross-linked via divalent cations. These subunits are variable molecular weight aggregates of a single phosphoprotein molecule covalently cross-linked via histidinoalanine residues. Evidence for a nonenzymatic cross-linking mechanism is discussed.