Tetanus Toxin and Antigenic Derivatives I. Purification of the Biologically Active Monomer

A procedure for the isolation of pure tetanus toxin in a lethal monomeric form was developed based on the extraction of whole cells and chromatographic techniques. A crude extract of toxin was obtained by hypertonic extraction of cells from a 72-hr culture of Clostridium tetani Massachusetts strain. The extract was precipitated with ammonium sulfate and further purified by sequential use of ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The degree of purification obtained by the fractionation procedures was monitored by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The pure toxin has an average specific activity of 150 x 10(6) mouse MLD per mg of N and 3,000 Lf per mg of N. Immunological purity was demonstrated by a single line on both immunoelectrophoresis and agar double diffusion. One band was obtained on polyacrylamide electrophoresis, as was a single symmetrical peak in the ultracentrifuge and on Sephadex G-100 chromatography. The pure protein has an absorbancy ratio (280/260 mmu) of 2.1 in phosphate buffer (pH 7.5).     

Purification of ornithine transcarbamylase from rat liver by affinity chromatography with immobilized transition-state analog

Ornithine transcarbamylase (EC 2.1.3.3) was purified to homogeneity from rat liver. The basis of the method is the chromatography of a high-speed supernatant fraction of a homogenized rat liver on an affinity column consisting of the transition-state analog of ornithine transcarbamylase, δ-N-(phosphonacetyl)-l-ornithine, immobilized on epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B through the α-amino group. The enzyme was eluted from the column using a gradient of the substrate, carbamyl phosphate, and further purified by gel filtration. The enzyme elutes with a constant specific activity of 250 to 260 μmol min^?1 mg^?1 at pH 8.5, 37°C, and is free of contaminating proteins on sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. Determination of the molecular weight of the purified enzyme by centrifugation (98,000) and by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (35,300) indicates that the enzyme from rat liver is a trimer. The enzyme exhibits conventional Michaelis-Menten kinetics at pH 7.4 and in this respect differs from the enzyme prepared by other methods.     

Purification and characterization of phytase from cotyledons of germinating soybean seeds

Soybean phytase (myo-inositol-hexakisphosphate phosphohydrolase; EC 3.1.3.8) was purified from 10-day-old germinating cotyledons using a four-step purification scheme. Phytase was separable from the major acid phosphatase present, and stained as a minor band of the three acid phosphatases detectable by activity staining after gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme exhibited two closely migrating bands on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of approximately 59 and 60 KDa. The molar extinction coefficient of the enzyme at 280 nm was estimated to be 7.5 X 10(4) M-1 cm-1. The isoelectric point of phytase, as judged by the elution profile on chromatofocusing, was about 5.5. The enzyme was totally absorbed to a Procion Red HE3B column and eluted as a single protein component at a salt concentration of 250-300 mM. The enzyme possessed a high affinity for phytic acid (apparent Km = 48 microM), and was strongly inhibited by phosphate (apparent Ki = 18 microM), vanadate, and fluoride. Characteristic of other plant phytases, the pH and temperature optima were 4.5-4.8 and 55 degrees C, respectively.     

Purification and Properties of Clostridium botulinum Type F Toxin

Clostridium botulinum type F toxin of proteolytic Langeland strain was purified. Toxin in whole cultures was precipitated with (NH₄)₂SO₄. Extract of the precipitate was successively chromatographed on diethylaminoethyl-cellulose at pH 6.0, O-(carboxymethyl) cellulose at pH 4.9, Sephadex G-200 at pH 8.1, quaternary aminoethyl-Sephadex at pH 4.9, and finally diethylaminoethyl-cellulose at pH 8.1. The procedure recovered 14% of the toxin assayed in the starting culture. The toxin was homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, double gel diffusion serology, and isoelectric focusing. Purified toxin had a molecular weight of 150,000 by gel filtration and 155,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Specific toxicity was 9.6 × 10⁶ mean lethal doses per absorbancy (278 nm) unit. Sub-units of 105,000 and 56,000 molecular weight are found when purified toxin is treated with a disulfide reducing agent and electrophoresed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Reciprocal cross neutralizations were demonstrated when purified type F and E toxins were reacted with antitoxins which were obtained with immunizing toxoids prepared with purified toxins.     

Adenosine triphosphatases associated with bovine brain microtubules. I. Presence of two distinct ATPases and their partial purification

Brain microtubules purified by cycles of assembly and disassembly contained an ATPase activity in the fraction of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). This ATPase activity was found to be stimulated by 6S tubulin in the presence of Ca2+ ions, suggesting its functional association with brain microtubules (Ihara et al. (1979) J. Biochem. 86, 587-590). On further purification by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, two peaks of ATPase activity were separated; one, eluted at 0.2 M KCl (ATPase I), was dependent on added 6S tubulin but the other, eluted at 0.5 M KCl (ATPase II), was not. ATPase I was highly unstable but could be stabilized by the addition of 0.1 mM ADP, 50% (v/v) glycerol or 0.3 mg/ml tubulin. ATPase I was further purified by CM-cellulose column chromatography, and by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. Its molecular weight, estimated by gel filtration, was 33,000. ATPase II had a high molecular weight and appeared to be associated with membrane vesicles. It sedimented on glycerol density gradient centrifugation with an s value of 27S. It was purified by high speed sedimentation and hydrophobic chromatography, and was observed under an electron microscope to consist of membrane vesicles of about 70 nm in diameter containing knob-like structures similar to those of H+-pump ATPase.     

Identification and purification of a cytosolic phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase from bovine spleen

A protein tyrosine kinase with an apparent Mr of 60,000 was highly purified from bovine spleen and used to phosphorylate poly(Glu, Tyr) (4:1) on tyrosine residues for the study of phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatases from this tissue. About 70% of the phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatase activity in extracts of bovine spleen was adsorbed on DEAE-Sepharose. Chromatography of the eluted phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatases on phosphocellulose indicated the presence of at least two species, one that did not bind to the phosphocellulose and a second species that did bind and was eluted at about 0.5 M NaCl. The phosphatase that did not bind to phosphocellulose was further purified by successive chromatography on poly(L-lysine)-Sepharose, L-tyrosine-agarose, poly(Glu,Tyr)-Sepharose, and Sephacryl S-200. The enzyme had an apparent Mr of 50,000 as estimated by gel filtration and 52,000 as estimated by NaDodSO4- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The phosphatase exhibited a pH optimum of 6.5-7.0, was inhibited by Zn2+ and vanadate ions, and was stimulated by EDTA. Sodium fluoride and sodium pyrophosphate, inhibitors of phosphoseryl protein phosphatases, had no effect on the enzyme. Protein inhibitors of type 1 phosphoseryl/threonyl phosphatase were also ineffective.     

Rat liver contains a novel nucleotide, Ypp5'A2'p, related to adenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate

A novel nucleotide, Ypp5'A2'p, has been purified through perchloric acid extraction of rat liver followed by DEAE-cellulose and ion pair high pressure liquid chromatographies. Y stands for an unknown compound, probably a nucleoside, whose sugar moiety is different to beta-D (deoxy) ribose. Treatment of Ypp5'A2'p with snake venom phosphodiesterase renders Yp and adenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate (pAp). After elimination of the terminal phosphate with alkaline phosphatase, the resulting nucleotide (Ypp5'A) yielded Yp and 5'-AMP when hydrolyzed by the phosphodiesterase. The following ultraviolet absorption spectral characteristics were determined at pH 7: Ypp5'A2'p (lambda max = 265 nm; A250/A260 = 0.76; A280/A260 = 0.79); Yp (lambda max = 279 nm; A250/A260 = 0.70; A280/A260 = 1.70). The molar extinction coefficient found for Yp at 280 nm was 20.6 x 10(3) M-1 cm-1.     

Some properties of cortisol-receptor complex isolated from cytoplasm of rat liver and its effect on biosynthesis of nuclear RNA

The cortisol binding compound, from the cytoplasm of rat liver, was purified by gel filtration and precipitation with ammonium sulphate. The binding compound from rat liver cytoplasm, has been found to consist of two distinct protein fractions. The proteins eluted from DEAE-cellulose column chromatography at 0.04 M and 0.18 M concentrations of KCl, have two different isoelectric points, one at pH 4.85–5.00, and another at pH 5.85–6,10, but only the fraction eluted at 0.04 M KCl was found to be able to stimulate the incorporation of ³²P into RNA of incubated rat liver nuclei. The highest values of ³²P incorporation in the nucleic acids of incubated nuclei were obtained with partially purified hormone protein (s) complexes wich were precipitated with ammonium sulphate saturation between 20–25% and 25–30%.     

Purification and properties of pig liver kynureninase.

Kynureninase [L-kynurenine hydrolase, EC 3.7.1.3] was purified from pig liver by a procedure including DEAE-cellulose chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Bio Gel chromatography, Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration, kynurenine-Sepharose affinity chromatography, and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The enzyme was found to be homogeneous by the criterion of disc-gel electrophoresis. The enzyme has a molecular weight of about 100,000 and exhibits absorption maxima at 280 and 420 nm. The optimum pH and the isoelectric point of the enzyme are 8.5 and 5.0, respectively. The Michaelis constants were determined to be as follows: L-kynurenine, 7.7 X 10(-4) M; L-3-hydroxykynurenine, 1.3 X 10(-5) M; and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, 1.8 X 10(-6) M. L-3-Hydroxykynurenine is hydrolyzed more rapidly than L-kynurenine; the liver enzyme can be regarded as a 3-hydroxy-kynureninase.     

Purification and characterization of histamine dehydrogenase from Nocardioides simplex IFO 12069

Histamine dehydrogenase from Nocardioides simplex IFO 12069 was purified to homogeneity. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 170 kDa and was suggested to be a dimer of subunits that had a molecular mass of 84 kDa. The enzyme showed highest activity toward histamine and produced ammonia in its oxidative deamination to imidazole acetaldehyde. The K(m) and V(max) values for histamine were 0.075 mM and 4.76 micromol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively. The enzyme was sensitive to the carbonyl reagent iproniazid and a structurally similar compound, tryptophan. The enzyme showed absorption maxima at 442 and 280 nm. Reduction with histamine under anaerobic conditions resulted in a different absorption maximum at 360 nm instead of 442 nm. The enzyme was most active at pH 8.5 in Tris-HCl buffer and most stable at pH 7.0 in potassium phosphate buffer. The E(1%) value of the enzyme was 8.6 at 280 nm.     

Fractionation of nonhistone proeins on a column of daunomycin-CH-Sepharose 4B

The molecular weight of a partially purified alkaline phosphatase (orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.1) from the halotolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii was estimated to 110,000 by gel filtration. The isoelectric point determined by electrofocusing was at approximately pH 4.4. The enzyme had a broad specificity against phosphomonoesters and also attacked some acid anhydrides. Arsenate, molybdate, and orthophosphate acted as competitive inhibitors. Various metal-binding agents inhibited enzyme activity. A zinc addition almost completely reversed the EDTA inhibition. Magnesium stimulated enzyme activity and was required for maintenance of activity at high concentrations of Na+. Increasing glycerol concentration increased the value of the Michaelis constant (Km) and decreased the maximum velocity (V). Solutions equimolar in KCl and NaCl stimulated enzyme activity by increasing V, whereas the Km was almost unaffected by salt concentration. Enzyme extracted from cells cultured at low salinity was indistinguishable from that of cells grown in the presence of 2.7 M NaCl with respect to several criteria.     

Characterization of nontransformed and transformed androgen receptor from rat submandibular gland

Rat submandibular gland cytosol contained androgen receptor which had a single class of specific binding and an apparent dissociation constant of (1.1-1.2) X 10(-9) M. The process of transformation was investigated by a slightly modified minicolumn method in which the transformed receptor complexes were separated from the nontransformed receptor and meroreceptor. 10 mM ATP or pyrophosphate at 0 degrees C induced transformation of androgen receptor as did heat or salt treatment. 20 mM of sodium molybdate completely inhibited transformation that resulted from ATP, heat or salt treatment. The nontransformed androgen receptor complexes sedimented at 8 S and eluted at 250-260 mM KCl from DEAE-Sephacel, and its molecular weight was found to be 220 000 on Sephacryl S300 gel chromatography. On the other hand, the transformed androgen receptor complexes sedimented at 4.1-4.3 S (ATP or KCl treatment) or 3.5-3.8 S (heat treatment) and eluted at 60-80 mM KCl from DEAE-Sephacel. The molecular weight of the transformed androgen receptor complexes was 80 000-85 000 (ATP or KCl treatment) or 70 000-80 000 (heat treatment). These results suggest that the transformation of androgen-receptor complexes from rat submandibular gland was induced by the subunit dissociation and that salt bridges may be involved in the subunit interaction.     

Measurements of DNA and RNA in mammary gland homogenates by the ethidium bromide technique.

A rapid method of determining simultaneously DNA and RNA in mammary gland homogenates using the ethidium bromide technique is discussed. The method utilizes a quantitative extraction of DNA and RNA with 2.0m sodium chloride, SDS, and EDTA at pH 8.0. Assays of mammary gland RNA and DNA using previously published methods were compared with determinations using the ethidium bromide technique. While the fluorescence method gave lower values for RNA when compared to those obtained using the orcinol or absorbancy ratio (OD 260nm/280nm), DNA measurements agreed well with the values determined by the diphenylamine technique. Extinction coefficient data for total mammary gland RNA isolated using a modified phenol extraction procedure are also presented.     

蛋白质二硫键异构酶的纯化和活力测定

 从500g新鲜牛肝制得蛋白质二硫键异构酶(PDI,EC 5.3.4.1)98mg。该酶制剂在SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳中表现为亚基分子量62,000的均一条带。在260nm追踪,因二硫键错接而失活的牛胰核糖核酸酶A,经PDI作用使其二硫键重排恢复活力,从而催化酵母RNA的水解来测定PDI活力。这种单波长法比文献中介绍的追踪A_(260)—A_(280)的双波长法更为灵敏方便。酶的克分子消光系数ε_M=1.03×10~5(pH7.5),其比活性为1400单位/克蛋白质。     

Purification and characterization of a 7Fe-ferredoxin from Rhodobacter capsulatus

A ferredoxin was purified anaerobically from Rhodobacter capsulatus grown photoheterotrophically with excess ammonia. This ferredoxin, called ferredoxin II (FdII), had a molecular weight of approximatively 15,000 by gel filtration and 14,000 by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicating that it is monomeric. Its absorption spectrum (oxidized form) exhibited maxima at 280 nm and 400 nm; the A400/A280 ratio had a calculated value of 0.55. Chemical determination of its iron and sulfur atom content, the value of the extinction coefficient at 400 nm (epsilon 400 = 26.8 mM-1 cm-1) and EPR spectra indicated that ferredoxin II contained one [3Fe-4S] and one [4Fe-4S] cluster. Upon reduction with excess dithionite only the [3Fe-4S] cluster became reduced. The reduction of both clusters was achieved by using 5-deazaflavin as photocatalyst. Ferredoxin II was also purified from bacteria grown under nitrogen limiting (nif derepressing) conditions. In in vitro assays, ferredoxin II catalyzed electron transport between illuminated chloroplasts and nitrogenase.     

Isolation and partial characterization of trehalose 6-phosphate synthase aggregates from Selaginella lepidophylla plants

Trehalose 6-phosphate synthase was purified from Selaginella lepidophylla plants and three aggregates of the enzyme were found by molecular exclusion chromatography, ion exchange chromatography and electrophoresis. Molecular exclusion chromatography showed four activity peaks with molecular weights of 624, 434, 224 and 115 kDa. Ion exchange chromatography allowed three fractions to be separated with TPS activity which eluted at 0.35, 0.7 and 1 M KCl. Native PAGE of each pool had three protein bands with apparent M(r) 660, 440 and 200 kDa. Western blot results showed that anti-TPS antibody interacted with 115 and 67 kDa polypeptides; these polypeptides share peptide sequences as indicated by internal sequence data. The effects of pH and temperature on enzyme stability and activity were studied. For fractions eluted at 0.35 and 1.0 M KCl, the optimum pH is 5.5, while an optimum pH of 7.5 for 0.7 M fraction was found. The three fractions eluted from ion exchange chromatography were stable in a pH 5-11 range. Optimal temperatures were 25, 45 and 55 degrees C for 0.7, 0.35 and 1.0 M fractions, respectively. The 0.7 M KCl fraction showed highest stability in a temperature range of 25-60 degrees C, whereas the 0.35 M KCl fraction had the lowest in the same temperature range.     

Occurrence of a novel nucleotide, Zpp5'A2'p, in rat liver extracts

The nucleotide Zpp5'A2'p has been isolated from rat liver. Z stands for an unknown compound, probably a nucleoside. The preliminary structure of Zpp5'A2'p has been elucidated by treatment with phosphodiesterase and/or alkaline phosphatase and analysis of the products of the reaction by high pressure liquid chromatography. The following ultraviolet absorption spectral characteristics were determined at pH 7.0: Zpp5'A2'p (lambda max = 265 nm; A250/A260 = 0.76; A280/A260 = 0.83); Zp (lambda max = 280 nm; A250/A260 = 0.88; A280/A260 = 1.46). The molar extinction coefficient found for Zp, at 280 nm, was (7.5 + 0.9) X 10(3) M-1 cm-1. The base of Zp could correspond to an indole derivative.     

Studies on the physical states of human platelet myosin in crude extracts

The physical properties of human platelet myosin in crude extracts were studied by means of Sepharose 4B gel filtration and sucrose density gradient centrifugation in the presence or absence of Mg-ATP. Platelet myosin extracted with a buffer containing 0-0.15 M KCl gave a Stokes radius of about 12.0-12.5 nm irrespective of the presence or absence of Mg-ATP. The sedimentation coefficients obtained in the presence of Mg-ATP were about 10-11 and 8.5S at 0.05-0.10 and 0.15 M KCl, respectively, whereas the values obtained in the absence of Mg-ATP were about 16, 9-12, and 8.5S at 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 M KCl, respectively. The apparent molecular weight in the presence of Mg-ATP, therefore, was about 500,000 and 420,000 at 0.05-0.10 and 0.15 M KCl, respectively, while the molecular weight in the absence of Mg-ATP was about 790,000, 460,000-620,000, and 440,000 at 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 M KCl, respectively. The purified monomeric platelet myosin that had been solubilized with Mg-ATP at 0.10 M KCl had a Stokes radius of about 12.5 nm, a sedimentation coefficient of about 9S, and an apparent molecular weight of 460,000. On the other hand, while crude platelet myosin extracted at 0.6 M KCl with Mg-ATP gave a Stokes radius of about 20 nm, a sedimentation coefficient of about of 6S, and an apparent molecular weight of about 490,000, each of these physical parameters obtained in the absence of Mg-ATP was much larger than that obtained in the presence of Mg-ATP because the myosin was associated with F-actin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Purification and characterization of an esterase isozyme involved in hydrolysis of organophosphorus compounds from an insecticide resistant pest, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctüidae)

An esterase isozyme was purified from the insecticide resistant pest, Helicoverpa armigera collected from field crops. Purification involved ammonium sulfate precipitation, hydrophobic interaction and ion exchange chromatography followed by gel filtration chromatography. The purification was 212-fold with 1% yield of the enzyme. The optimum pH of the isozyme was found to be 10.5 and 8.5 for p-nitrophenyl phosphate and paraoxon, respectively. The enzyme was unstable at temperature >50 degrees C. The molecular mass determined by SDS-PAGE was 66 kDa. Cations such as Hg(+2), Ag(+2), Cd(+2) inhibited the activity while Zn(+2) stimulated it. Kinetic studies indicated that the enzyme had low K(m) values of 0.238 and 0.348 mM for p-nitrophenyl phosphate and paraoxon, respectively. The enzyme had broad substrate specificity with high K(m) values for ATP, ADP and beta-glycerophosphate. This enzyme was partially sequenced and identified as an alkaline phosphatase.     

Properties of fructose 1,6-diphosphate aldolases from spores and vegetative cells of Bacillus cereus

Fructose 1,6-diphosphate aldolase from cells of Bacillus cereus appears to be typical Class II aldolase as judged by its functional and physical properties. Spore and vegetative cell aldolase had similar enzymatic, immunochemical, and heat resistance properties in the absence of calcium, but they differed in their thermal stabilities in the presence of calcium, their Stokes' radii, their mobility in acrylamide gel electrophoresis, and their molecular weights. The pH optimum for both enzymes was 8.5, and their K(m) with respect to substrate was 2 x 10(-3)m. Highly purified spore and vegetative cell aldolases were both heat labile with half-lives of 4 min at 53 C and pH 6.4. In the presence of 3 x 10(-2)m solution of calcium ions, the stability of the spore protein increased 12-fold but the vegetative form became more heat labile. The enhanced stability of the spore aldolase was not diminished by dialysis or gel filtration but was lost after chromatography on diethylaminoethyl cellulose at pH 7.4. Aldolase from vegetative cells exists in an equilibrium mixture of two molecular weights, 115,000 and 79,000 in the approximate ratio of 1:4, respectively. The molecular weight of spore aldolase is 44,000. Spore aldolase was more mobile during electrophoresis than its vegetative cell counterpart because of its smaller size.