Inhibition of urea synthesis by pent-4-enoate associated with decrease in N-acetyl-L-glutamate concentration in isolated rat hepatocytes

Pent-4-enoate at 0.1 to 1.0 mM strongly inhibited urea synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes. Pent-4-enoate at the same concentrations markedly decreased concentrations of $\text{N-}\text{acetyl-}\text{L}\text{-glutamate}$, an essential activator of carbamoyl-phosphate synthase-I (EC 2.7.2.5), and the decrease was well parallel with the inhibition of urea synthesis by pent-4-enoate. This compound also lowered cellular concentrations of acetyl-CoA, a substrate of acetylglutamate synthase (EC 2.3.1.1). Pent-4-enoate in a dose of 1 mM did not significantly affect cellular concentrations of ATP, and had no direct effect on acetylglutamate synthase activity. These results suggest that the inhibition of urea synthesis by pent-4-enoate is due to decrease in $\text{N-}\text{acetyl-}\text{L}\text{-glutamate}$ concentration and that the decrease is probably brought about by decreased rate of its synthesis due to the lowered concentration of cellular acetyl-CoA.     

Control of mitochondrial respiration by the phosphate potential

The rate of respiration of suspensions of mitochondria in the presence of excess oxygen and substrate is shown to be dependent on the ratio of the concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to the product of the concentrations of adenosine diphosphate and orthophosphate. The mitochondrial respiratory chain is essentially in equilibrium with the reactions for ATP synthesis. The rate of mitochondrial respiration is controlled by the free energy requirement for ATP synthesis and this control is expressed on the rates of the reactions for reduction of the dehydrogenases by substrate and the oxidation of cytochrome $\text{a}{}_3$ by molecular oxygen.     

Cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase from sea urchin eggs, merogons, and embryos

The presence of cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase has been established in sea urchin eggs and four-cell embryos by subcellular fractionation and use of enucleate egg halves. ATP is the only ribonucleoside triphosphate incorporated. This incorporation is time dependent, contingent on input protein concentration, and immune to a variety of antimetabolites known to inhibit DNA-directed RNA synthesis. Both the unfertilized egg and the four-cell embryo cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase activities display a preference for Mn²⁺. While oligo(A)₄ is inactive as a primer, addition of $\text{oligo(A)}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>16</mtext>}}\text{,}\text{poly(A)}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>45</mtext>}}$ and $\text{poly(A)}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>90</mtext>}}$ stimulates ATP incorporation. On a unit per milligram protein basis, the endogenous activity associated with cytoplasmic fractions obtained from nucleate and enucleate egg halves is 36 and 83% that obtained with the cytoplasmic fraction prepared from the unfertilized egg. In the presence of $\text{oligo(A)}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>16</mtext>}}$, both the nucleate and enucleate egg halves exhibit 81% of the activity associated with the unfertilized egg cytoplasmic fraction. The level of Mn²⁺ cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase activity from the four-cell embryo is approximately 50% that of the unfertilized egg. This decrease does not appear to be due to either a postfertilization alteration in the subcellular localization of poly(A) polymerase or an increase in RNase activity. Supplementation with $\text{oligo(A)}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>16</mtext>}}$ failed to restore the four-cell embryo cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase potential to a level comparable to that of the unfertilized egg. Suppression of postfertilization protein synthesis by emetine, however, prevents this developmental decline in ATP incorporation thereby suggesting that postfertilization cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase activity is subject to negative translational control.     

Protein-bound histidine,as well as protein-bound serine,residues are sites of phosphorylation in the synaptic plasma membrane

When synaptic plasma membrane fragments are incubated with ATP in the presence of Mg²⁺, phosphate is transferred, not only to protein-bound serine, but also to protein-bound histidine. The phosphorylation of protein-bound serine is stimulated by cyclic AMP and has a $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ for ATP of about 0.12 mM, both in the presence and absence of cyclic AMP. By contrast, the phosphorylation of protein-bound histidine is unaffected by cyclic AMP and does not follow Michaelis-Menton kinetics since a non-linear double reciprocal plot is given when activity is measured at various ATP concentrations.     

Measurement of cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate synthesis in growing Escherichia coli.

The net synthesis of cAMP by an adenine auxotroph of $\text{Escherichia coli}$ was measured by assaying the incorporation of tritium from [³H]-adenine into cyclic [³H] AMP during exponential growth. Synthesis of cAMP ceased abruptly when glucose was added to cells growing in glycerol and then recovered to an intermediate rate of synthesis after 0.5–1.0 generation. Cyclic AMP appeared to be synthesized from a precursor pool that turned over more rapidly than total cellular ATP. The rates of cAMP synthesis measured by this technique are compatible with the cellular levels of cAMP previously measured in this strain(3).     

Dissociation between Ca2+-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities in plasma membranes of rat duodenum

The presence of Ca²⁺-ATPase activities with high-affinity sites for Ca²⁺ in brush border as well as basolateral plasma membranes of rat duodenal epithelium has been reported previously (Ghijsen, W.E.J.M. and van Os, C.H. (1979) Nature 279, 802–803). Since both plasma membranes contain alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), which also can be stimulated by Ca²⁺, the substrate specificity of Ca²⁺-induced ATP-hydrolysis has been studied to determine whether or not alkaline phosphatase and Ca²⁺-ATPase are two distinct enzymes. In basolateral fragments, the rate of Ca²⁺-dependent ATP-hydrolysis was greater than that of ADP, AMP and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphate}$ at Ca²⁺ concentrations below 25 μM. At 0.2 mM Ca²⁺ the rates of ATP, ADP, AMP and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphate}$ hydrolysis were not significantly different. In brush border fragments the rates of ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis were identical at low Ca²⁺, but at 0.2 mM Ca²⁺, Ca²⁺-induced hydrolysis of ADP and AMP was greater than either ATP or $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphate}$. Alkaline phosphatase in brush border and basolateral membranes was inhibited by 75% after addition of 2.5 mM theophylline. Ca²⁺-stimulated ATP hydrolysis at 1 μM Ca²⁺ was not sensitive to theophylline in basolateral fragments while the same activity in brush border fragments was totally inhibited. At 0.2 mM Ca²⁺, Ca²⁺-induced ATP hydrolysis in both basolateral and brush border membranes was sensitive to theophylline. Oligomycin and azide had no effect on Ca²⁺-stimulated ATP hydrolysis, either at low or at high Ca²⁺ concentrations. Chlorpromazine fully inhibited Ca²⁺-stimulated ATP hydrolysis in basolateral fragments at 5 μM Ca²⁺, while it had no effect in brush border fragments. From these results we conclude that, (i) Ca²⁺-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase are two distinct enzymes, (ii) high-affinity Ca²⁺-ATPase is exclusively located in basolateral plasma membranes, (iii) alkaline phosphatase activity, present on both sides of duodenal epithelium, is stimulated slightly by low Ca²⁺ concentrations, but this Ca²⁺-induced activity is inhibited by theophylline and shows no specificity with respect to ATP, ADP or AMP.     

Regulation of muscle phosphorylase activity by carnosine and anserine

Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) activates rabbit muscle phosphorylase $\text{a}$ in the presence and absence of AMP and phosphorylase $\text{b}$ in the presence of AMP in a biphasic manner with a maximal activation at about 50mM carnosine and with phosphorylase $\text{b}$ showing a greater degree of activation than phosphorylase $\text{a}$. Anserine (β-alanyl-L-N^π-methyl-histidine) activates phosphorylase $\text{a}$ to a lesser extent than carnosine up to a concentration of 90mM, whereas with phosphorylase $\text{b}$ a weak activation below 30mM and a concentration-dependent inhibition above this concentration occurs. These effects are specific for the dipeptides and are not shown by their constituent amino acids. Carnosine and anserine activate phosphorylase $\text{a}$ in the presence of the allosteric inhibitors ATP, D-glucose and caffeine, and the inhibition of phosphorylase $\text{b}$ by anserine is also observed in the presence of these inhibitors.     

Phosphorylation and nitrogenase activity in isolated heterocysts from Anabaena variabilis (ATCC 29413)

Adenylate-pool composition, energy charge, and nitrogenase activity were examined in isolated heterocysts from Anabaena variabilis (ATCC 29413). ATP formation was detected as a light- or oxygen-induced increase in ATP concentration. No cofactors or substrates had to be added for photophosphorylation to occur, whereas oxidative phosphorylation was dependent on hydrogen and oxygen (Knallgas reaction). The increase in ATP concentration was reflected by a decrease in AMP concentration, accompanied by small changes in ADP levels. Thus, a regulation of the adenylate pool by a myokinase (adenylate kinase) has to be assumed. Upon dark-light transitions, the energy charge in heterocysts increased from values below 0.4 to values approaching 0.8. High energy-charge values, reached in the light only, allowed for high rates of acetylene reduction in the presence of hydrogen. The increase in the energy charge in the dark to approx. 0.64 by addition of oxygen (5% ($\text{v}\text{v}$) in the presence of hydrogen) resulted in low nitrogenase activities, generally not exceeding 1–3% of the light-induced rates. In the dark, oxygen concentrations above 10% were inhibitory to both ATP formation and acetylene reduction. Increasing light intensities led to a steep increase in energy charge followed by an increase in nitrogenase activity. Plotting enzyme activity versus energy charge, a nonlinear, asymptotic relationship was observed.     

, -Methylene-adenosine-5'-triphosphate--effects of a competitive inhibitor of adenylate cyclase on cyclic AMP accumulation and lipolysis in isolated fat cells

The rapid, transient rise in the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP which follows addition of L-epinephrine to isolated fat cells is completely prevented by an ATP analog, α,β-methylene-adenosine-5′-triphosphate [Ap(CH₂)pp], a competitive inhibitor of adenylate cyclase activity in liver and fat cell membrane preparations. The concentration of cyclic AMP falls distinctly below that in the basal state after incubating fat cells for seven minutes in the presence of Ap(CH₂)pp. The results are consistent with the view that the ATP analog is also an effective $\text{in vivo}$ inhibitor of adenylate cyclase activity, and that intracellular cyclic AMP levels are normally delicately balanced by very rapid processes of synthesis and degradation. Epinephrine-induced lipolysis in fat cells is not inhibited but is instead enhanced by Ap(CH₂)pp. This is probably explained by the ability of the analog to act (like ATP) as a high-energy phosphate donor, an effect which is independent of its inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity. The predominant effect of this compound on glucose oxidation by fat cells also appears to be the result of this property since its effects are mimicked by ATP.     

Glucagon or cyclic AMP-stimulated synthesis of 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate in isolated hepatocytes and inhibition by antimicrotubular drugs.

Glucagon increased the level of 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate ($\text{PP}$Rib$\text{P}$) in isolated rat hepatocytes; a relatively high concentration of cyclic AMP could replace glucagon. In the presence of glucagon, the rate of incorporation of respective radioactive precursors into purine, pyrimidine, and oxidized pyridine nucleotides was accelerated, indicating that glucagon stimulates the synthesis of $\text{PP}$Rib$\text{P}$. Addition of 10^?6 M colchicine, vinblastin, or podophyllotoxin abolished the glucagon or cyclic AMP-induced increase in the $\text{PP}$Rib$\text{P}$ level. Colchicine did not affect accumulation of cyclic AMP induced by glucagon. These results suggest the involvement of tubulin or microtubules in the signal transfer from cyclic AMP to stimulated synthesis of $\text{PP}$Rib$\text{P}$.     

A template independent, rifampicin sensitive poly (A).poly (U) synthesizing activity present in Bacillus subtilis.

A template independent poly (A)·poly (U) synthesizing activity has been isolated from $\text{Bacillus subtilis}$. This activity is eluted from a DNA-cellulose column along with DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The column fractions which exhibit this activity contain RNA polymerase holoenzyme plus a polypeptide which is slightly larger than sigma factor; pure RNA polymerase holoenzyme did not synthesize poly (A)·poly (U). The activity was dependent on the presence of ATP, UTP, and Mn⁺⁺ (Mg⁺⁺ could not substitute), and was inhibited by rifampicin, streptolydigin, and Cibacron Blue. The incorporation of nucleotides was not linear with time, but appeared after a lag period. The results suggest that a modified form of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase analogous to $\text{Escherichia coli}$ holoenzyme II is catalyzing the synthesis of poly (A)·poly (U).     

Eosin,a fluorescent probe of ATP binding to the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

(1) Eosin bound to the $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ in the presence of K⁺ has practically the same fluorescence as eosin without enzyme while in the presence of Na⁺ the fluorescence is higher, the excitation maximum is shifted from 518 to 524 nm, the emission maximum from 538 to 542 nm, and a shoulder appears at about 490 nm on the excitation curve. (2) The amount of eosin bound increases with the K⁺ concentration but with a low affinity. With equal concentrations of Na⁺ and K⁺ more is bound in the presence of Na⁺, and the difference between 150 mM Na⁺ and 150 mM K⁺ shows one high-affinity eosin binding site per ³²P-labelling site ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{D}}$ 0.45 μM). With lower concentrations of the cations there are between one and two Na⁺-dependent high-affinity eosin binding sites per ³²P-labelling site. (3) ATP (and ADP) prevents the hig-affinity Na⁺-dependent eosin binding and there is competition between eosin and ATP for the hydrolysis in the presence of Na⁺ (+Mg²⁺). (4) Eosin, like ATP, increases the Na⁺ relative to K⁺ affinity $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{= 150}\text{mM}$) for Na⁺ activation of hydrolysis and for Na⁺ protection against inactivation by $\text{N-}\text{ethylmaleimide}$. (5) The results suggest that the high affinity eosin binding site is an ATP binding site and that it is located on the enzyme in an environment with a low polarity, i.e., the conformational change induced by Na⁺ opens a high-affinity site for ATP while K⁺ closes the site (or decreases the affinity to a low level). The experiments suggest, furthermore, that the ATP which increases the Na⁺ relative to K⁺ affinity of the internal sites is not the ATP which is hydrolyzed, i.e., in a turnover cycle in the presence of $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ the system reacts with two different ATP molecules.     

Poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) synthesis by isolated nuclei of Xenopus,laevis embryos: Invitro elongation of invivo synthesized chains

We have studied the synthesis of poly(ADP-ribose) by nuclei isolated from $\text{Xenopus}\text{laevis}$ embryos at different stages of development. Determination of the total chain length of poly(ADP-ribose) molecules by hydroxylapatite column chromatography generally gave higher values than when the radioactive portions of these molecules, synthesized $\text{in}\text{vitro}$, were measured by poly(ethyleneimine)-cellulose thin layer chromatography, after snake venom phosphodiesterase digestion. The results show that most of the poly(ADP-ribose) synthesized $\text{in}\text{vitro}$ is a covalent elongation of molecules previously initiated $\text{in}\text{vivo}$.     

Citrulline synthesis: Regulation by alterations in the total mitochondrial adenine nucleotide content

The total adenine nucleotide content of rat liver mitochondria was varied in vitro over a wide range in order to investigate a possible relationship between net changes in the total matrix ATP + ADP + AMP content and the overall rate of citrulline synthesis. Isolated mitochondria were specifically depleted of matrix adenine nucleotides by incubating with inorganic pyrophosphate (G. K. Asimakis and J. R. Aprille, 1980, Arch. Biochem. Biophys.203, 307–316); alternatively, matrix adenine nucleotides were increased by incubating mitochondria with 1 mm ATP at 30 °C. No exogenous ATP or ADP was included in the subsequent incubations for the determination of citrulline synthesis. Rates varied from 0.1 to 1.6 μmol citrulline/mg protein/h as a linear function of total adenine nucleotide content in the range 2–15 nmol (ATP + ADP + AMP)/mg protein. Further increases in the matrix ATP + ADP + AMP content caused no further increase in citrulline synthesis rates. Changes in the total adenine nucleotide content were reflected in proportional changes in both the ATP and ADP content of the matrix. The $\text{ATP}\text{ADP}$ ratio did not change significantly. Therefore, the variations in citrulline synthesis were most simply explained as the effect of different concentrations of ATP on the activity of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase. It was concluded that net changes in the total adenine nucleotide content can contribute to the control of citrulline synthesis. These findings are significant in the context of recent evidence which shows that the matrix adenine nucleotide pool size is under hormonal control.     

Cyclopenta(f)isoquinoline derivatives designed to bind specifically to native deoxyribonucleic acid. 3. Interaction of 6-carbamylmethyl-8-methyl-7H-cyclopenta(f)isoquinolin-3(2H)-one with deoxyribonucleic acids and polydeoxyribonucleotides

By the use of space-filling models, a novel compound, 6-carbamylmethyl-8-methyl-7$\text{H}$-cyclopenta[f]isoquinolin-3(2$\text{H}$)-one ($\text{1}$) was devised which would be expected to hydrogen bond specifically to GC pairs in the major groove of the double helix such that (i) the amino group of the cytosine molecule donates a hydrogen bond to the C-3 carbonyl of the isoquinoline moiety and (ii) the amide proton of the side chain donates a hydrogen bond to the N-7 of guanine. From difference spectra studies it was found that $\text{1}$ binds to native calf thymus DNA better than to denatured DNA; $\text{1}$ inhibited RNA synthesis by a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase; and equilibrium dialysis experiments revealed that $\text{1}$ binds to poly(dG).poly(dC), whereas no such binding to poly(dA).poly(dT) was observed.     

Chromatographic resolution of two DNA polymerase activities from bloodstream forms of Trypanosomabrucei: Differential responses to exogenous polyamine addition

A single peak of DNA polymerase activity from extracts of $\text{T.}\text{brucei}$, obtained by DEAE-cellulose and phosphocellulose ion-exchange chromatography, was resolved into two peaks differing in KCl concentration necessary to elute them from a DNA-agarose column. Peak I (eluting at 0.2 M KCl) and Peak II (eluting at 0.4 M KCl), differed in response to increasing KCl concentrations, although both functioned optimally with Mg²⁺ as divalent cation when DNA synthesis was directed either by activated DNA or poly (dC)·(dG)_12–18. Due to the potential significance of polyamines in the metabolism of $\text{T.}\text{brucei}$, the effect of exogenous polyamine on rates of DNA synthesis by the peak I and II enzymes was compared with that of murine DNA polymerase alpha. Only the peak I enzyme was significantly stimulated (up to 4-fold) by the biologically active polyamines spermine and spermidine at physiological concentrations. The response of the peak I enzyme resembled that of the alpha polymerase. This result suggests a possible functional difference between peak I and II enzymes, as well as a potential target site for trypanocidal drug development.     

Infidelity of DNA synthesis by reverse transcriptase

The fidelity of purified DNA polymerase from avian myeloblastosis virus in precisely copying polynucleotide templates was determined. With poly (dA-dT) · poly (dA-dT) as a template, one molecule of the incorrect basepaired nucleotide (dCTP) is incorporated for every 6000 nucleotides polymerized. When copying the ribo strand of poly (rA) · poly (dT) the error rate is approximately one in 600. It is suggested that the enzyme makes similar errors $\text{in}\text{vivo}$ and thus could be mutagenic.     

Cell-free translation of messenger RNAs of embryonic tooth organs: Synthesis of the major extracellular matrix proteins

In order to understand the regulation of embryonic mammalian enamel and dentine extracellular matrix protein synthesis, the biological activity of embryonic rabbit molar tooth organ messenger RNAs has been examined. Total RNA was extracted from 26-day embryonic tooth organs and fractionated by chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose. Replicate samples were fractionated on sucrose density gradients and the poly(A)-containing distribution determined using a poly(U) ${}^3$H assay. The poly(A)-containing fractions stimulated ${}^3$H-proline incorporation 10-fold in wheat germ cell-free extracts. Analysis of the labelled reaction products on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gels revealed seven major peaks, one co-migrating with procollagen alpha chains (circa 145,000 daltons) and the others migrating slightly faster than the various extracellular matrix proteins which characterize amelogenesis and dentinogenesis. Purified collagenase digestion of the cell-free reaction products eliminated the 145,000 dalton procollagen-like polypeptide. This is the first demonstration of the isolation of embryonic tooth organ messenger RNAs and provides an experimental approach by which to study the regulation of extracellular matrix formation during tooth morphogenesis. We predict that the non-collagenous proteins synthesized $\text{in vitro}$ represent enamel proteins, alkaline phosphatase, dentine phosphoproteins and proteins associated with proteoglycans.