On the identification of the two E. coli supernatant proteins which stimulate the initiation of polypeptide synthesis.

The two E. coli supernatant proteins which were previously designated as factors A and B, and which were shown to activate ribosomes for initiation, are very probably factors EF-Ts and EF-G, respectively. An EF-Ts preparation, homogeneous when analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, contained considerable A activity. The EF-Ts and A activities differed, however, in their heat sensitivity and in the amount of the preparation required. An electrophoretically-homogeneous preparation of EF-G retained strong B activity. The amount of the preparation required for EF-G and B activity and the heat sensitivity of the two activities were similar. GTP enhanced the activation of the ribosomes by factors A and B.     

Purification of protoplast-secreted acid phosphatase from baker's yeast. Effect on adenosine triphosphatase activity.

In order to examine acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) and ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) activities of baker's yeast (pH optimum 3.5) a protoplast-secreted enzyme preparation was purified and some physical and chemical properties were studied. Three protein fractions containing ATPase and acid phosphatase activities, in the same ratio as the initial preparation, were separated by ion-exchange chromatography. The first fraction which had the highest protein content yielded a homogeneous preparation after Sepharose 4B chromatography and was used in further studies. An attempt to estimate molecular weight of this protein was made. Attempts to separate acid phosphatase and ATPase activities by ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, isoelectric focusing and sucrose density gradient centrifugation have been unsuccessful. Both activities behaved the same way to heat and urea denaturation. These results suggest that the two activities are associated with the same protein molecule.     

Relation of structure to function in bacterial endotoxins. VIII. Biological activities in a polysaccharide-rich fraction.

This is the first report describing in vivo biologic activities elicited by a non-toxic, polysaccharide-rich, water soluble fraction obtained by partial acidic hydrolysis from endotoxic lipopolysaccharide. The two activities present in this preparation were a) mouse bone marrow cell colony formation stimulation (CSF) and b) protection of mice against lethal irradiation. With polysaccharide-deficient rough mutants of salmonella minnesota, the CSF-inducing activity could be restricted to the "core" region of the LPS structure. Sixty-minute hydrolysis with 1 N HCl at 100 degrees C or 0.1 M sodium metaperiodate oxidation at cold room temperature completely abolished CSF-inducing activity of the preparation, whereas it showed considerable resistance to mild alkaline hydrolysis. These findings indicate that the active component in this preparation is carbohydrate in nature. Lipid preparations from smooth LPS or from Re rough mutants are either much less active or completely inactive in the above two assays. The fully active polysaccharide rich preparation was found to be inert in seven other characteristic endotoxicity parameters.     

Studies on Metabolic Pathway of NAD in Yeast

Electrophoretically homogeneous preparation of yeast 5′~nucleotidase, one of NAD metabolizing system, was obtained from yeast autolysate by ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatography, gel filtration and zone electrophoresis. The preparation had strong NAD-splitting activity, namely nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity.

Throughout purification steps, the ratio of the two activities were kept constant and they could not be separated even by treatments with EDTA, urea, thioglycol and alkaline buffer. These seem to suggest that both activities of 5′-nucleotidase and nucleotide pyrophosphatase localize on a single protein.     

Characterization of (Mg,Ca)-ATPase activity in rat pancreatic plasma membranes.

1. Pancreatic plasma membranes containing a high adenylate cyclase activity and a low contamination by cytochrome c oxidase were isolated from the rat by sucrose density centrifugation. The preparation contained an (Mg,Ca)-ATPase of high activity with the following characteristics. 2. The ATPase activity was shown to have two apparent Km values for Mg-ATP (0.24 +/- 0.09 mM and 1.15 +/- 0.21 mM) and two apparent Km values for Ca-ATP (0.14 +/- 0.09 mM and 0.68 +/- 0.10 mM). Mg-GTP and Ca-GTP were also hydrolysed by the preparation. The phase transition temperature was 19.3 +/- 1.0 degrees C for the Mg-ATPase and 22.6 +/- 1.1 degrees C for the Ca-ATPase activities. 3. Three lines of evidence suggest that Mg-ATP and Ca-ATP were substrates for the same enzyme: Mg-dependent and Ca-dependent activities were not additive; the two activities showed the same pH optimum at 8.0; and the nonionic detergents Triton X-100, Triton X-305, Triton N-101, Lubrol P 12 A, and digitonin, produced a parallel solubilization of the two activities. 4. Enzyme activities were insensitive to potassium, sodium, ouabain, pancreozymin, carbamoyl-choline, secretin, concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin, and soybean lectin.     

Ferroxidase activity of mushroom tyrosinase

Mushroom tyrosinase catalyses the oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III). Both the newly-discovered ferroxidase and the well-characterized diphenol oxidase activities of tyrosinase exhibit inhibition by cyanide and both activities co-purify during two preparation steps. The characteristics of tyrosinase-catalysed Fe(II) oxidation are compared with those of other ferroxidases.     

Thiol-protein disulphide oxidoreductases. Differences between protein disulphide-isomerase and glutathione-insulin transhydrogenase activities in ox liver.

1. Protein disulphide-isomerase and glutathione-insulin transhydrogenase activities were assayed in parallel through a conventional purification of protein disulphide-isomerase from ox liver. 2. Throughout a series of purification steps (differential centrifugation, acetone extraction, (NH4)2SO4 precipitation and ion-exchange chromatography), the two activities appeared in the same fractions but were purified to different extents. 3. The final sample was 143-fold purified in protein disulphide-isomerase but only 10-fold purified in glutathione-insulin transhydrogenase; nevertheless the two activities in this preparation were not resolved by high-resolution isoelectric focusing and both showed pI4.65. 4. In a partially purified preparation containing both activities, glutathione-insulin transhydrogenase was far more sensitive to heat denaturation than was protein disulphide-isomerase; conversely protein disulphide-isomerase was more sensitive to inactivation by deoxycholate. 5. The data are inconsistent with a single enzyme being responsible for all the protein disulphide-isomerase and glutathione-insulin transhydrogenase activity of ox liver. It is suggested that several similiar thiol-protein disulphide oxidoreductases of overlapping specificities may better account for the data.     

Inhibition of macrophage migration by virus-induced interferon preparations.

It was found that a preparation of mouse L cell interferon induced by Newcastle disease virus (NDV) possessed not only interferon activity but also inhibitory activity upon migration of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages (MIF activity). These activities were also observed in a preparation of human leukocyte interferon induced by NDV. The interferon and MIF activities shared common characteristics in the dose response, time course of in vitro production, thermal stability, sensitivity to trypsin and periodate, and elution pattern in CM-Sephadex column chromatography. However, gel filtration pattern with Sephadex G-100 showed two separate peaks. Fractions collected from the first peak, corresponding to a molecular weight of about 45 000, had only the MIF activity, while those collected from the second peak, corresponding to a molecular weight of about 30 000, had both the interferon and MIF activities. A preparation of mouse brain interferon induced by Japanese encephalitis virus had a much weaker MIF activity than the L cell interferon, although these preparations were equal in interferon activity (5000 units/ml).     

Galactosialidosis: a direct evidence that a 46-kilodalton protein restores deficient enzyme activities in fibroblasts

The intracellular function of a specific protein to protect lysosomal beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase activities against proteases in human fibroblasts was studied. Beta-Galactosidase was purified from human placenta to different degrees; a preparation (A) contained also two concomitant proteins, and a highly purified preparation (B) contained only the mature beta-galactosidase. The protein concentrate of the culture medium of normal fibroblasts restored the activities of the deficient enzymes, beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase, in galactosialidosis cells. This effect was inhibited only by the anti-A anti-serum, and not by the anti-B antiserum. A 46-kilodalton protein, secreted from fibroblasts cultured in the presence of ammonium chloride, was detected again only by the anti-A antiserum, and not by the anti-B antiserum. It was concluded that this protein has a function to restore their activities in fibroblasts from galactosialidosis patients after being endocytosed from the culture medium.     

Rat liver microsomal 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and dihydrodiol dehydrogenase: solubilization, separation and partial purification

Rat liver microsomes contain 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) (EC 1.1.1.50) and dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (DHD) (EC 1.3.1.20) activities. The two enzyme activities were solubilized by 10% Triton X-100 or 0.4% sodium deoxycholate. Unlike the cytosolic enzyme (Penning & Talalay (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80, 4505), the microsomal HSD and DHD activities were not inhibited by indomethacin. Chromatography of the microsomal Triton X-100 extract on Affigel Blue and then on Phenyl-Sepharose gave an HSD preparation containing no detectable (less than 3 - 5%) DHD activity, whereas chromatography of the deoxycholate extract on Phenyl-Sepharose provided a DHD preparation that lacked measurable HSD activity. These results are in sharp contrast to the cytosolic enzyme where both HSD and DHD activities could be copurified to homogeneity (Penning et al. (1984) Biochem. J. 222, 601).     

Inhibition of Macrophage Migration by Virus-Induced Interferon Preparations1

It was found that a preparation of mouse L cell interferon induced by Newcastle disease virus (NDV) possessed not only interferon activity but also inhibitory activity upon migration of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages (MIF activity). These activities were also observed in a preparation of human leukocyte interferon induced by NDV. The interferon and MIF activities shared common characteristics in the dose response, time course of in vitro production, thermal stability, sensitivity to trypsin and periodate, and elution pattern in CM-Sephadex column chromatography. However, gel filtration pattern with Sephadex G-100 showed two separate peaks. Fractions collected from the first peak, corresponding to a molecular weight of about 45 000, had only the MIF activity, while those collected from the second peak, corresponding to a molecular weight of about 30 000, had both the interferon and MIF activities. A preparation of mouse brain interferon induced by Japanese encephalitis virus had a much weaker MIF activity than the L cell interferon, although these preparations were equal in interferon activity (5000 units/ml).     

Fibrinolytic properties of protease complex isolated from the culture fluid of Nocardia minima

The protease complex isolated form the Nocardia minima culture liquid was studied in vitro. The preparation had two different activities (fibrinolytic and activating), i.e. it was able to convert plasminogen into plasmin. At a concentration of 250 micrograms/ml and above the preparation lysed experimental thrombi. The fibrinolytic activity of the preparation was completely inhibited with normal human plasma.     

Rates of degradation and synthesis of glycosidases de novo during growth and differentiation of Dictyostelium discoideum.

1. Injection of a purified preparation of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase from the spent growth medium of myxamoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum into rabbits gave rise to an antibody preparation containing both anti-alpha-glucosidase and anti-beta-acetylglucosaminidase activities. 2. These two activities were shown to reside in different immunoglobulin molecules and it was concluded that the beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase preparation contained trace amounts of highly antigenic alpha-glucosidase. 3. A single precipitin band having beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity was formed in Ouchterlony plates when this antibody preparation was tested against extracts obtained from differentiated cells or from myxamoebae grown either axenically or on bacteria. 4. The antibody preparation was used to show that both beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase and alpha-glucosidase molecules are synthesized de novo from isotopically labelled amino acids during both the growth and differentiation phases of the life cycle and to show that neither of these proteins is significantly degraded during the growth phase or during the first 9h of differentiation. 5. The rates of accumulation of these assayable enzyme activities are thus equal to their rates of synthesis during growth and early differentiation. 6. The factors regulating cellular enzyme activity during the life cycle of D. discoideum are discussed.     

Rat liver membrane preparations

The quality of rat liver plasma membranes was examined using three different methods of preparation. Hypotonic Ca⁺⁺-free preparation media were compared with hypotonic Ca⁺⁺ media and with isotonic Ca⁺⁺ media. The plasma membranes prepared in hypotonic Ca⁺⁺ free media were as pure or better than the other two preparation types, while the (Na⁺K⁺)-MgATPase, MgATPase, and the ADPase specific activities were higher. The AMPase specific activities were of similar value for all three types of preparation.     

Studies on the Chitinolytic Enzymes of Black-koji Mold

It was found that the purified chitinase preparation acts upon glycol chitin resulting in the decomposition to constituent aminosugar, the saccharifying activity being determined by application of the Morgan-Elson reaction. The enzymatic properties of the mold chitinase were investigated by measuring liquefying activity and saccharifying activity. Distinct differences were observed between the two activities, and especially liquefying activity was more stable than saccharifying activity against heat treatment. The chitinase preparation whose saccharifying activity was inactivated by heating was able to decrease the viscosity of glycol chitin solution, with an insignificant production of aminosugar.     

Poly(A) polymerase from Vigna unguiculata seedlings. A bifunctional enzyme responsible for both poly(A)-polymerizing and poly(A)-hydrolyzing activities

Poly(A)-specific ribonuclease was co-purified with poly(A) polymerase from Vigna unguiculata seedlings. Both activities were separated into two forms (enzymes I and II) by a final hydrophobic column chromatography. The enzyme I preparation, which was homogeneous as examined by SDS/PAGE, had both poly(A) polymerase and poly(A)-specific ribonuclease activities. The antibody raised to the enzyme I preparation precipitated both enzyme activities. These indicate that a single polypeptide (Mr 63,000) is responsible for both poly(A)-polymerizing and poly(A)-hydrolyzing activities. The poly(A)-specific ribonuclease was a 3'-exonuclease specific to single-stranded poly(A), forming 5'AMP as the sole reaction product. The hydrolytic activity required either Mn2+ or Mg2+ with different optimum concentrations, whereas the polymerizing activity required Mn2+ but not Mg2+. ATP and PPi had little or no effect on the poly(A)-specific ribonuclease activity.     

不同生境下木麻黄脯氨酸含量和质膜ATPase活性的研究

采集生长于恶劣环境和中生环境的普通木麻黄(Casuarina)小枝,超速离心提取粗质膜制剂后,用两相系统法纯化得到质膜微囊,研究不同生境下木麻黄的质膜ATPase活性,并测定木麻黄小枝的游离脯氨酸含量。实验结果表明:同一生境中的木麻黄ATPase活性相对一致,而同一树种木麻黄不同生境下质膜微囊H~+-ATPase、Ca~(2+)-ATPase、K~+-ATPase活性有显著差异,表现出以渗透胁迫为主的恶劣环境下的木麻黄质膜微囊ATPase活性和木麻黄细胞内游离脯氨酸明显高于中生环境下生长的木麻黄。说明普通木麻黄在干旱和盐胁迫下能调整生理生化过程来提高其质膜ATPase活性和增加细胞内脯氨酸含量提高渗透调节能力以保证其在恶劣环境的正常生长。     

不同生境下木麻黄脯氨酸含量和质膜ATPase活性的研究

采集生长于恶劣环境和中生环境的普通木麻黄(Casuarina)小枝,超速离心提取粗质膜制剂后,用两相系统法纯化得到质膜微囊,研究不同生境下木麻黄的质膜ATPase活性,并测定木麻黄小枝的游离脯氨酸含量。实验结果表明：同一生境中的木麻黄ATPase活性相对一致,而同一树种木麻黄不同生境下质膜微囊H^ -ATPase、Ca^2 ATPase、K^ -ATPase活性有显著差异,表现出以渗透胁迫为主的恶劣环境下的木麻黄质膜微囊ATPase活性和木麻黄细胞内游离脯氨酸明显高于中生环境下生长的木麻黄。说明普通木麻黄在干旱和盐胁迫下能调整生理生化过程来提高其质膜ATPase活性和增加细胞内脯氨酸含量提高渗透调节能力以保证其在恶劣环境的正常生长。     

Phase-dependent coordination of two motor programs in the buccal ganglion of a pteropod mollusk

Rhythmic activities of two feeding structures of the pteropod mollusk Clione limacina, redula and hooks, controlled by the neural networks in the buccal ganglia must be coordinated in order to produce a meaningful feeding response. Optical recording from the buccal ganglia, which allows the simultaneous activities of numerous neurons to be traced, revealed that such coordination exists in a phase-dependent manner. Instead of recording four theoretically possible phases of neuronal rhythmic activity, we always recorded only two phases, even after the electrical stimulation of the cerebro-buccal connective, which triggers both radula and hook rhythmic movements in the preparation.     

A multifunctional protein possessing glycinamide ribonucleotide synthetase, glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase, and aminoimidazole ribonucleotide synthetase activities in de novo purine biosynthesis

Three activities on the pathway of purine biosynthesis de novo in chicken liver, namely, glycinamide ribonucleotide synthetase, glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase, and aminoimidazole ribonucleotide synthetase, have been found to reside on the same polypeptide chain. Three diverse purification schemes, utilizing three different affinity resins, give rise to the same protein since the final material has identical specific activities for all three enzymatic reactions and a molecular weight on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels of about 110 000. A single antibody preparation precipitates all three activities and binds to the multifunctional protein obtained by two methods in Western blots. Partial chymotryptic digestion of the purified protein gives rise to two fragments, one possessing glycinamide ribonucleotide synthetase activity and the other containing glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase activity.