Isolation and amino acid composition of two somatostatin-like peptides from ovine hypothalamus: somatostatin-28 and somatostatin-25

Two $\text{b}$-type cytochrome components, differing in their mid-point redox potentials as well as their reactivities toward CO, are demonstrated in the membrane particle of $\text{Azotobacter}\text{vinelandii}$ by potentiometric titration. The low redox component is revealed to be CO-reactive while the higher redox component is not. Accordingly, the later cytochrome is believed not to be directly involved in the reduction of oxygen while the former component is the cytochrome $\text{o}$ of $\text{Azotobacter}$.     

Maturation of an NH2-terminally extended thermostable alpha-amylase in Bacillus subtilis: a possible mechanism examined by in vitro experiments.

An artificially inserted extra peptide (21 amino acid peptide) between the B. subtilis alpha-amylase signal peptide and the mature thermostable alpha-amylase was completely cleaved by B. subtilis alkaline protease in vitro. The cleavage to form a mature enzyme was observed between pH 7.5 and 10, but not between pH 6.0 and 6.5, although a similar protease activity toward Azocall was observed between pH 6.0 and 7.5. To analyze the effects of pH on the cleavage, CD spectra at pH 6, 8, and 11 of the NH2-terminally extended thermostable alpha-amylase were analyzed and the results were compared with those of the mature form of the alpha-amylase. It is suggested that the cleavage of the NH2-terminally extended peptide is controlled by the secondary and tertiary structure of the precursor enzyme. Similar cleavage of different NH2-terminally extended peptides by the alkaline protease was also found in other hybrid thermostable alpha-amylases obtained.     

Intracellular processing and transport of NH2-terminally truncated forms of a hemagglutinin-neuraminidase type II glycoprotein

Six amino-terminal deletion mutants of the NH2-terminally anchored (type II orientation) hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein of parainfluenza virus type 3 were expressed in tissue culture by recombinant SV-40 viruses. The mutations consisted of progressive deletions of the cytoplasmic domain and, in some cases, of the hydrophobic signal/anchor. Three activities were dissociated for the signal/anchor: membrane insertion, translocation, and anchoring/transport. HN protein lacking the entire cytoplasmic tail was inserted efficiently into the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum but was translocated inefficiently into the lumen. However, the small amounts that were successfully translocated appeared to be processed subsequently in a manner indistinguishable from that of parental HN. Thus, the cytoplasmic domain was not required for maturation of this type II glycoprotein. Progressive deletions into the membrane anchor restored efficient translocation, indicating that the NH2-terminal 44 amino acids were fully dispensable for membrane insertion and translocation and that a 10-amino acid hydrophobic signal sequence was sufficient for both activities. These latter HN molecules appeared to be folded authentically as assayed by hemagglutination activity, reactivity with a conformation-specific antiserum, correct formation of intramolecular disulfide bonds, and homooligomerization. However, most (85-90%) of these molecules accumulated in the ER. This showed that folding and oligomerization into a biologically active form, which presumably represents a virion spike, occurs essentially to completion within that compartment but is not sufficient for efficient transport through the exocytotic pathway. Protein transport also appeared to depend on the structure of the membrane anchor. These latter mutants were not stably integrated in the membrane, and the small proportion (10-15%) that was processed through the exocytotic pathway was secreted. The maturation steps and some of the effects of mutations described here for a type II glycoprotein resemble previous observations for prototypic type I glycoproteins and are indicative of close similarities in these processes for proteins of both membrane orientations.     

Membrane translocation and insertion of NH2-terminally anchored gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase require a signal recognition particle

The two subunits of the renal brush border enzyme, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (EC 2.3.2.2), are derived from a single-chain propeptide. The membrane-spanning domain consists of a hydrophobic sequence near its NH2-terminus and the protein is oriented with its NH2-terminus on the cytoplasmic side. The enzyme is synthesized without a cleavable signal sequence. Translocation and insertion of this enzyme have been shown to be dependent on the signal recognition particle and presumably require the same translocation machinery that other secretory and membrane proteins use for these processes.     

N-linked glycosylation of a proenkephalin A-derived peptide. Evidence for the glycosylation of an NH2-terminally extended Met-enkephalin Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 variant

To investigate the possibility that the opioid peptide precursor proenkephalin A was glycosylated, we utilized an antiserum raised against the COOH terminus of Met-enkephalin Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 (MERGL) to identify and characterize enkephalin-containing peptides from extracts of bovine adrenal medulla. Sephadex G-50 gel filtration separated two immunoreactive peaks which had apparent masses of 9 and 6 kDa. Anion-exchange chromatography and reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that the 9-kDa material was a heterogenous mixture of immunoreactive peptides, of which one (9K-MERGL Ia) was purified to homogeneity. The 6-kDa material separated into two major immunoreactive peaks (6K-MERGL I and 6K-MERGL II) on anion-exchange chromatography, and these were obtained in an homogenous form after reverse-phase HPLC. Amino acid sequencing, together with immunological characterization, indicated that the three peptides were identical in chain length, and corresponded to proenkephalin A 116-165. They contained the sequence Asn-Ser-Ser which is a potential N-glycosylation site. In 9K-MERGL Ia, but not the others, automated Edman amino acid sequencing was unable to detect the relevant asparagine residue, suggesting that this residue has been chemically modified. Further investigation of the 9K-MERGL material using lectin affinity chromatography provided direct evidence of glycosylation. Verification of this result was obtained using the specific enzyme glycopeptidase F (glycopeptide-N-glycosidase) which demonstrated that 9K-MERGL contained, in part, N-linked oligosaccharide chains. These results show that an NH2 terminally extended Met-enkephalin Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 variant was N-glycosylated, and hence indicate that the precursor polypeptide proenkephalin A can be glycosylated during translation in the rough endoplasmic reticulum.     

Identification of amidicin: a novel peptide with C-terminal amide structure isolated from porcine cardiac atrium

Using a novel method employing a V8 protease digestion coupled with ethyl acetate extraction, we have purified a peptide with C-terminal amide structure from porcine cardiac atrium. The peptide was determined to be Ala-Val-Leu-Gly-Leu-CONH2. According to the sequence, we have raised an antibody and established the radioimmunoassay. Using this radioimmunoassay, we have isolated a novel 14 amino acid peptide where C-terminus was amidated. This peptide was termed amidicin. Amidicin is widely distributed in porcine tissue and is especially abundant in pituitary gland, cardiac ventricle, and spleen.     

Somatostatin-14 neurons in the ovine hypothalamus: colocalization with estrogen receptor alpha and somatostatin-28(1-12) immunoreactivity,and activation in response to estradiol

Pituitary gland growth hormone (GH) secretion is influenced by two hypothalamic neuropeptides: growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin. Recent data also suggest that estrogen modulates GH release, particularly at the time of the preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge, when a coincident surge of GH is observed in sheep. The GHRH neurons do not possess estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha), suggesting that estrogen does not act directly on GHRH neurons. Similarly, few somatotropes express ERalpha, suggesting a weak pituitary effect of estradiol on GH. It was hypothesized, therefore, that estradiol may affect somatostatin neurons to modulate GH release from the pituitary. Using immunocytochemical approaches, the present study revealed that although somatostatin neurons were located in several hypothalamic sites, only those in the arcuate nucleus (13% +/- 2%) and ventromedial nucleus (VMN; 29% +/- 1%) expressed ERalpha. In addition, we found that all neurons immunoreactive for somatostatin-14 were also immunoreactive for somatostatin-28(1-12). To determine whether increased GH secretion in response to estradiol is through modulation of GHRH and/or somatostatin neuronal activity, a final study investigated whether c-fos expression increased in somatostatin- and GHRH-immunoreactive cells at the time of the estradiol-induced LH surge in intact anestrous ewes. Estradiol significantly (P < 0.05) increased the percentage of GHRH (estradiol, 75% +/- 3%; no estradiol, 19% +/- 2%) neurons expressing c-fos in the hypothalamus. The percentage of somatostatin-immunoreactive neurons coexpressing c-fos in the estradiol-treated animals was significantly (P < 0.05) higher (periventricular, 44% +/- 3%; arcuate, 72% +/- 5%; VMN, 81% +/- 5%) than in the control animals (periventricular, 22% +/- 1%; arcuate, 29% +/- 3%; VMN, 31% +/- 3%). The present study suggests that estradiol modulates the activity of GHRH and somatostatin neurons but that this effect is most likely mediated through an indirect interneuronal pathway.     

Isolation of [Pro2,Met13]somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-14 from the frog brain reveals the existence of a somatostatin gene family in a tetrapod.

Two somatostatin-related peptides were isolated in pure form from an extract of the brain of the European green frog, Rana ridibunda. The primary structure of the most abundant component was identical to that of mammalian somatostatin-14. The primary structure of the second component, present in approximately 5% of the abundance of somatostatin-14, was established as Ala-Pro-Cys-Lys-Asn-Phe-Phe-Trp-Lys-Thr-Phe-Thr-Met-Cys. This sequence shows two substitutions (Pro for Gly2 and Met for Ser13) compared with mammalian somatostatin-14. The data provide evidence for a somatostatin gene family in tetrapods as well as in teleost fish.     

Antibody to synthetic somatostatin-28(1-12): immunoreactivity with somatostatin in brain is dependent on orientation of immunizing peptide

Rabbits were immunized with synthetic peptides representing the neurotransmitter dodecapeptide somatostatin-28(1-12) (SANSNPAMAPRE) coupled to the carrier protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) at either the amino or the carboxyl terminus. Although all rabbits produced high-titer antisera to immunizing peptide, as assayed by ELISA, only rabbits immunized with peptide coupled to carrier at the amino terminus yielded antibodies that bound to native somatostatin in mouse brain slices. This effect of peptide coupling orientation on epitope specificity of peptide antisera is likely to be significant to other investigators who use predetermined peptide sequences to generate immunohistochemical reagents.     

Purification and characterization of a novel form of 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Clostridium scindens.

We have purified a steroid-inducible 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from Clostridium scindens to apparent homogeneity. The final enzyme preparation was purified 252-fold, with a recovery of 14%. Denaturing and nondenaturing polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis showed that the native enzyme (Mr, 162,000) was a tetramer composed of subunits with a molecular weight of 40,000. The isoelectric point was approximately pH 6.1. The purified enzyme was highly specific for adrenocorticosteroid substrates possessing 17 alpha, 21-dihydroxy groups. The purified enzyme had high specific activity for the reduction of cortisone (Vmax, 280 nmol/min per mg of protein; Km, 22 microM) but was less reactive with cortisol (Vmax, 120 nmol/min per mg of protein; Km, 32 microM) at pH 6.3. The apparent Km for NADH was 8.1 microM with cortisone (50 microM) as the cosubstrate. Substrate inhibition was observed with concentrations of NADH greater than 0.1 mM. The purified enzyme also catalyzed the oxidation of 20 alpha-dihydrocortisol (Vmax, 200 nmol/min per mg of protein; Km, 41 microM) at pH 7.9. The apparent Km for NAD+ was 526 microM. The initial reaction velocities with NADPH were less than 50% of those with NADH. The amino-terminal sequence was determined to be Ala-Val-Lys-Val-Ala-Ile-Asn-Gly-Phe-Gly-Arg. These results indicate that this enzyme is a novel form of 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.     

Recruitment calling: a novel form of extended parental care in an altricial species

In many altricial birds, fledglings disperse when they are no longer fed, and this dispersal marks the end of parental care. In some species, however, young remain in close association with their parents after nutritional independence. Because juveniles are still inferior foragers at this stage, they might benefit from parental assistance in locating good feeding sites, but this possibility remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that parents and helpers in pied babbler (Turdoides bicolor) societies use a recruitment call to direct nutritionally independent, but inexperienced, foragers to particular food patches. Observations and a playback experiment indicated that adult babblers use a "purr" call to recruit group members to a foraging patch. Creation of experimental foraging patches supported observations that individuals tend to give the call when they are foraging on abundant, divisible food sources and when their group contains independent fledglings (youngsters who are no longer fed directly). Fledglings responded to calls more often than adults, who frequently encountered aggression from the caller if they did, and the fledglings gained significant foraging benefits. This is the first study to demonstrate that altricial birds may use recruitment calls to extend parental care past the period of direct provisioning.     

An amino-terminally extended and post-translationally modified form of a 25kD basic fibroblast growth factor

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a heparin-binding angiogenic polypeptide mitogen. bFGF proteins characteristically have a molecular weight of 18,000 which is consistent with the predicted primary translation product of 155 amino acids from the cDNA. More recently, higher molecular weight forms of bFGF have been identified but their structural relationship to the commonly known 18kD bFGFs has not been established. We now show that a 25kD bFGF purified from guinea pig brain tissue is an N-terminally extended and post-translationally modified form of the growth factor. Although the exact nature of the post-translational modifications has not been determined, circumstantial evidence suggests that they may be methylated arginines.     

Solubilization of a guanine nucleotide-sensitive form of vasopressin V2 receptors from porcine kidney

Vasopressin (V2) receptors were solubilized from porcine kidney membranes with the detergent egg lysolecithin. Binding of [3H]vasopressin to the solubilized fraction was rapid, specific, and saturable. The agonist dissociation constants observed in membranes and solubilized fractions were 1.7 +/- 0.3 and 2.3 +/- 0.2 nM, respectively. In competition binding experiments, the solubilized fraction exhibited the same pharmacological profile as the membranes. Chemical crosslinking of [125I]vasopressin to the solubilized fraction followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis demonstrated a 62-kDa band which was specifically labeled with [125I]vasopressin. Vasopressin binding sites from the solubilized fractions were resolved by gel filtration and ultracentrifugation on a sucrose gradient. In addition, agonist high affinity binding to V2 receptors and its sensitivity to guanine nucleotides were preserved even after solubilization in the absence of prebound agonist prior to solubilization. Addition of guanine nucleotides such as GTP gamma S decreased the specific binding of [3H]arginine vasopressin to these solubilized fractions in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the solubilization of a V2 receptor-G protein complex. [32P]ADP ribosylation of the solubilized fraction by cholera and pertussis toxins revealed specifically labeled proteins with molecular weights of 42,000-43,000 and 39,000-41,000, respectively, on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels. Furthermore [35S]GTP gamma S binding to these solubilized fractions was enhanced by vasopressin, confirming that a significant proportion of the vasopressin receptors must be closely coupled to G proteins even when these receptors are solubilized in the absence of agonist. These results are in contrast with those reported for beta, alpha 2 adrenergic and D2 dopaminergic receptor systems, but in agreement with D1 dopaminergic and A1 adenosine receptors. The molecular mechanism responsible for this difference remains to be determined.     

Valosin: isolation and characterization of a novel peptide from porcine intestine

The isolation and primary structure of a novel gastrointestinal peptide, designated valosin, is described. The peptide was purified from porcine upper gut extracts using an HPLC and N-terminal sequence screening strategy which depends on chromatographic and structural characteristics as isolation criterion. The amino acid sequence of this peptide consists of 25 amino acid residues:     

Effects of somatostatin-25 on lipid mobilization from rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss,liver and adipose tissue incubated in vitro. Comparison with somatostatin-14

Summary The physiological effects of the pancreatic peptides somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-25 on lipid metabolism in rainbow trout were evaluated by in vitro culture of liver and adipose tissue. The culture medium was subsequently analyzed for glycerol and fatty acid content and triacylglycerol lipase activity was measured within the tissues. Both somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-25 stimulated hepatic fatty acid and glycerol release within 3 h after treatment. Liver triacylglycerol lipase activity was elevated following treatment with somatostatin-14 (76% above control) or somatostatin-25 (94% above control). Somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-25 also significantly stimulated the release of fatty acid and glycerol from adipose tissue. Triacylglycerol lipase activity in adipose tissue also was enhanced by both somatostatins. These results indicate that somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-25 directly stimulate the mobilization of triacylglycerol from liver and adipose tissue, suggesting that these peptides are important systemic modulators of lipid metabolism in fish.Abbreviations bw body weight - cAMP cyclic adenosine monophosphate - FA ratty acids - fw fresh weight - GLU glucagon - INS insulin - MS-222 tricaine-methane sulphonate - SS-14 somatostatin-14 - SS-25 somatostatin-25 - TG triacylglycerol     

Reduced somatostatin-28-(1-12)-like immunoreactivity in cerebral cortex of dogs with an Eck fistula and somatostatin molecular forms in brain

Somatostatin-28-(1-12)-like immunoreactivity (S28(1-12)LI) in brains of Eck fistula dogs, prepared as an experimental model of hepatic encephalopathy, was measured. Significant reductions of S28(1-12)LI were observed in all cortical regions of Eck fistula dogs. The reductions of S28(1-12)LI were significantly correlated with decreases in somatostatin-14-like immunoreactivity (S14LI) in the cortical region. The ratios of S28(1-12)LI to S14LI in all cortical regions were not different between Eck fistula and normal dogs. Additionally, no difference in gel chromatographic profiles of S28(1-12)LI and S14LI was observed between Eck fistula and normal dogs. These results imply that reduced somatostatin immunoreactivity in hepatic encephalopathy may be caused not by altered degradation but by reduced production of prosomatostatin. Our S28(1-12)LI assay system could detect prosomatostatin(1-76) and S28(1-12) and the S14LI system prosomatostatin, S28 and S14. S28(1-12)LI/S14LI ratios in cortex were 0.64-0.83 and these were significantly different from those (1.02-1.36) in thalamus, midbrain and medulla. Relative proportions of prosomatostatin (20%) and S28 (23-24%) in cortex were larger than those (6-7% and 5-7%, respectively) in thalamus, midbrain and medulla. The differential distribution of these molecular forms suggests that processing of prosomatostatin in cortex may be different from that in thalamus, midbrain and medulla.     

4-hydroxy-2-nonylquinoline: a novel iron chelator isolated from a bacterial cell membrane

The membrane associated iron chelator of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been extracted from membranes of iron-rich cells with ethanol and purified by reverse phase HPLC. Using 13C NMR and FAB mass spectroscopy, the structure of the chelator has been determined to be 4-hydroxy-2-nonylquinoline. This compound has been previously isolated and named pseudan IX, a name which we use here. We synthesized pseudan IX and show that the spectral properties of the synthesized compound and the purified compound are nearly identical. Also purified from the ethanol extract of membranes is 4-hydroxy-2-heptylquinoline, i.e., pseudan VII. Bacterially purified pseudan IX binds iron as indicated by the incorporation of radiolabeled iron into the chelator and by the formation of pink micelles in a concentrated ethanol extract. The formation of pink micelles upon addition of iron to the synthesized compound indicates that it binds iron.     

Genomic diversity and relatedness of bifidobacteria isolated from a porcine cecum

This study initially involved the isolation of a number of bifidobacteria from either the lumen or the epithelium of a porcine cecum. A total of 160 isolates were selected at random on MRS plates containing cysteine hydrochloride (0.5 g/liter) and mupirocin (50 mg/liter). All were identified as bifidobacteria based on fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase activity. Following genomic digestion with the restriction enzyme XbaI and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), the isolates produced 15 distinct macro-restriction patterns. Several of the PFGE patterns differed by only 1, 2, or 3 DNA fragments and were grouped as related patterns into seven PFGE types, termed A through G. The related patterns appeared to show genomic plasticity within the isolates arising from chromosomal mutations or possibly horizontal transfer of plasmids. The relative frequency of each PFGE type was maintained within each cecal sample, with PFGE type E representing approximately 50% of the isolates. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA PCR, cell morphology, whole-cell protein profiling, 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing, and DNA-DNA hybridization were used to determine if the seven apparently unrelated PFGE types represented genetically distinct isolates. Four groups were identified: PFGE types A, C/D/G, B/E, and F, and these appeared to represent Bifidobacterium minimum, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum subsp. pseudolongum, and Bifidobacterium pseudolongum subsp. globosum and two new species, respectively. The data demonstrate the presence of considerable genomic diversity within a relatively simple bifidobacteria population, consisting of 15 distinct strains representing four groups, which was maintained throughout the porcine cecal contents and epithelial layer.