Characteristics of an enzyme hydrolyzing the covalent bond between RNA and protein VPg of the encephalomyocarditis virus

The enzyme termed by us as uridilylpolynucleotide-(5'P----O)-tyrosine phosphodiesterase (Y-pUpN PDE) was isolated from mouse ascites Krebs II cells by ion-exchange and affinity chromatography. The enzyme was found to specifically split the natural covalent bond between VPg and EMC or polio viral RNAs. The enzyme is completely inactivated at 55 degrees C and partially by EDTA. The enzyme preparation isolated by the above-mentioned procedure is not homogeneous and contains inhibiting admixture(s). Possible role of the enzyme in living cells is discussed.     

An aminotransferase specific for the d-enantiomorph of methionine

An enzyme was isolated from germinating peanut seed and shown to be an aminotransferase specific for the d-enantiomorph of methionine. The keto acid of methionine, α-keto-γ-methylthiobutyrate, was isolated from the reaction mixture and identified. Of the keto acids tested pyruvic acid was the most effective acceptor for the amino group of methionine. A small amount of enzyme was isolated which gave only one band on disc gel electrophoresis.     

Isolation and properties of triglyceride lipase from the rabbit liver

Using affinity chromatography on heparin-Sepharose 4B, triglyceride lipase was isolated from rabbit liver tissue and purified. The specific activity of the enzyme isolated from the usual homogenate was equal to (3.8 +/- 1.2) x 10(3) mumol/hour/mg protein. After treatment of liver tissue homogenates with liquid nitrogen the enzyme activity increased severalfold as compared to the enzyme isolated from the usual homogenate. The dependences of the triglyceride lipase activity on the concentrations of the protein (enzyme), substrate (triglyceride), albumin (fatty acid acceptor) and pH were studied. The isolated form of liver triglyceride lipase was found to have two pH optima at 6.5 and 8.5.     

Formate dehydrogenase from the methane oxidizer Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b.

Formate dehydrogenase (NAD+ dependent) was isolated from the obligate methanotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. When the enzyme was isolated anaerobically, two forms of the enzyme were seen on native polyacrylamide gels, DE-52 cellulose and Sephacryl S-300 columns; they were approximately 315,000 and 155,000 daltons. The enzyme showed two subunits on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. The Mr of the alpha-subunit was 53,800 +/- 2,800, and that of the beta-subunit was 102,600 +/- 3,900. The enzyme (Mr 315,000) was composed of these subunits in an apparent alpha 2 beta 2 arrangement. Nonheme iron was present at a concentration ranging from 11 to 18 g-atoms per mol of enzyme (Mr 315,000). Similar levels of acid-labile sulfide were detected. No other metals were found in stoichiometric amounts. When the enzyme was isolated aerobically, there was no cofactor requirement for NAD reduction; however, when isolated anaerobically, activity was 80 to 90% dependent on the addition of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) to the reaction mixture. Furthermore, the addition of formate to an active, anoxic solution of formate dehydrogenase rapidly inactivated it in the absence of an electron acceptor; this activity could be reconstituted approximately 85% by 50 nM FMN. Flavin adenine dinucleotide could not replace FMN in reconstituting enzyme activity. The Kms of formate dehydrogenase for formate, NAD, and FMN were 146, 200, and 0.02 microM, respectively. "Pseudomonas oxalaticus" formate dehydrogenase, which has physical characteristics nearly identical to those of the M. trichosporium enzyme, was also shown to be inactivated under anoxic conditions by formate and reactivated by FMN. The evolutionary significance of this similarity is discussed.     

Comparative study of the properties of a proteolytic enzyme isolated from the myelin of animals and from the biological fluids of disseminated sclerosis patients

A proteolytic enzyme with the activity of 8-26 U/mg protein was isolated from purified animal myelin preparation obtained by an original technique. The optimal pH of the enzyme was found to be 9.6-9.8. Its substrate specificity was studied. An enzyme with similar characteristics and identical electrophoretic mobility was isolated from the blood serum of patients with disseminated sclerosis and then purified. The major part of the enzyme activity in the blood and myelin was bound and was manifested only after special treatment. It is suggested that a similar proteolytic enzyme is present in human myelin, whose activation in demyelinating diseases may result in myelin destruction.     

Characterization and sequence of the Escherichia coli panBCD gene cluster

Abstract A metabolic key enzyme malate dehydrogenase (MDH) was purified from a deep-sea psychrophilic bacterium, Vibrio sp. strain no. 5710. The enzyme displayed an optimal activity shifted toward lower temperature and a pronounced heat lability. A gene encoding this enzyme was isolated and cloned. Recombinant Escherichia coli cells harboring the isolated clone expressed MDH activity with temperature stability identical to that of the parental psychrophile. Nucleotide sequencing of the gene revealed that its primary sequence was similar to that of a mesophile E. coli MDH (78% amino acid identity), for which the three-dimensional structure is known. The enzyme is thus suitable for the analysis of molecular adaptations to low temperatures.     

5,7-Dodecadien-1-ol: Candidate for the Sex Pheromone of the Pine Moth

Ferredoxin-nitrite reductase (EC 1.7.7.1), an enzyme which catalyzes the 6-electron reduction of nitrite to ammonia, has been isolated from Spinacia oleracea. The isolated enzyme was homogeneous by disc electrophoresis with polyacrylamide gel. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 86,000 by Ultrogel AcA 34 gel filtration. In the oxidized form, the enzyme had absorption maxima at 278, 388 (Soret band), 573 (α band) and 690 nm, indicating that siroheme is directly involved in the catalysis of nitrite reduction. This absorption spectrum was modified by sulfite, hydroxylamine and cyanide. The enzyme exhibited electron paramagnetic resonance signals with g values of 6.9 and 5.2, which are characteristic of a high spin Fe³⁺ -siroheme in the molecule. These signals disappeared upon the addition of dithionite or nitrite. This isolated enzyme also contained four moles of labile sulfide and 7 g-atoms of iron per 86,000 g of protein.     

Characterization of the Reduced Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate-Nitrate Reductase of Aspergillus nidulans

The reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-nitrate oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.6.2) from Aspergillus nidulans was purified over 200-fold by use of salt fractionation, gel filtration, and ion-exchange chromatography. The purified enzyme was specific for NADPH and catalyzed reduction of nitrate, cytochrome c from isolated mitochondria of Aspergillus, and mammalian cytochrome c. An S(0.725) (20, w) of 7.8 was derived with sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and a Stokes radius of 6.4 nm was derived by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. From these values, a molecular weight of 197,000 was computed, assuming v = 0.725 cm(3)/g. The spectral properties of the purified enzyme suggested a flavine component was present but revealed no pattern indicative of a hemoprotein. A cytochrome c, similar to the cytochrome c from isolated mitochondria, was found unassociated with the nitrate reductase after ion-exchange chromatography. No NADPH-nitrate reductase activity was detected in isolated mitochondria. Spectrally discernable reduction of the flavine component of the enzyme at 450 nm was noted after reaction with NADPH. This reduction was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate but not by KCN. The addition of nitrate to NADPH reduced enzyme caused a reoxidation of the flavine component via a reaction which was inhibited by KCN but not by p-chloromercuribenzoate. The half-life of the purified enzyme at 37 C was 20 min for NADPH-nitrate reductase and 35 min for NADPH-cytochrome c reductase.     

An exo-D-galacturonanase of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens from the bovine rumen

An intracellular pectinolytic enzyme was isolated from a cell extract of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and purified. The optimum pH for enzyme activity was 5.6. The enzyme preferentially degraded de-esterified substrates by hydrolysis of monosaccharide units from the non-reducing end; the only product of degradation was D-galacturonic acid. Values of Km and Vmax for oligo- and polygalacturonates indicated that the best substrate was digalacturonic acid; oligogalacturonates containing either a saturated or a delta 4,5-unsaturated non-reducing end were both degraded. The enzyme was classified as an exo-D-galacturonanase [poly(1,4-alpha-D-galacturonide) galacturonohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.67)].     

Enzymatic proof for the identity of the S-sulfocysteine synthase and cysteine synthase B of Salmonella typhimurium.

S-Sulfocysteine synthase was isolated from Salmonella typhimurium LT-2 to homogeneous form with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of this enzyme was determined to be ca. 55,000. The enzyme consisted of two identically sized subunits, and it contained one pyridoxal phosphate per subunit. The enzyme catalyzed the biosynthesis of cysteine or S-methylcysteine from sulfide or methanethiol and O-acetylserine, respectively, in addition to the formation of S-sulfocysteine from thiosulfate and O-acetylserine. The enzyme is identical to cysteine synthase B. The intracellular level of this enzyme was regulated by lesser extents of the same factors as those effective for cysteine synthase A.     

Purification and characterization of NADPH-dependent 2-oxoaldehyde reductase from porcine liver. A self-defence enzyme preventing the advanced stage of the Maillard reaction

An enzyme which catalyzes the reduction of 3-deoxyglucosone to 3-deoxyfructose and methylglyoxal to acetol, was isolated and purified from porcine liver. 2-Oxoaldehyde compounds were found to be especially good substrates and monocarbonyl compounds were poor substrates for this reductase. The optimum pH of the enzyme activity was 6.5. The Km for 3-deoxyglucosone and methylglyoxal were 2.1 mM and 3.3 mM, respectively. The enzyme consisted of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular mass of 38 kDa. The activity of the enzyme was completely inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate. The enzyme inhibited the advanced stage of the Maillard reaction.     

Isolation and partial characterization of DNA topoisomerase I from the nucleoids of white mustard chloroplasts

DNA topoisomerase was isolated for the first time from nucleoids of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) chloroplasts. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 70 kDa; it was ATP-independent, required the presence of mono- (K+) and bivalent (Mg2+) cations, and was capable of relaxing both negatively and positively supercoiled DNA. These results suggest that the enzyme isolated belongs to type IB DNA topoisomerases.     

The blue copper-containing nitrite reductase from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans: cloning of the nirA gene and characterization of the recombinant enzyme

The nirA gene encoding the blue dissimilatory nitrite reductase from Alcaligenes xylosoxidans has been cloned and sequenced. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the characterization of a gene encoding a blue copper-containing nitrite reductase. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibits a high degree of similarity to other copper-containing nitrite reductases from various bacterial sources. The full-length protein included a 24-amino-acid leader peptide. The nirA gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and was shown to be exported to the periplasm. Purification was achieved in a single step, and analysis of the recombinant Nir enzyme revealed that cleavage of the signal peptide occurred at a position identical to that for the native enzyme isolated from A. xylosoxidans. The recombinant Nir isolated directly was blue and trimeric and, on the basis of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and metal analysis, possessed only type 1 copper centers. This type 2-depleted enzyme preparation also had a low nitrite reductase enzyme activity. Incubation of the periplasmic fraction with copper sulfate prior to purification resulted in the isolation of an enzyme with a full complement of type 1 and type 2 copper centers and a high specific activity. The kinetic properties of the recombinant enzyme were indistinguishable from those of the native nitrite reductase isolated from A. xylosoxidans. This rapid isolation procedure will greatly facilitate genetic and biochemical characterization of both wild-type and mutant derivatives of this protein.     

Isolation and molecular kinetic properties of the angiotensin-converting enzyme from the human heart

An angiotensin-converting enzyme was isolated from human heart using N[-1(S)-carboxy-5-aminopentyl]glycyl-glycine as an affinity adsorbent. The isolation procedure resulted in an enzyme purified 1650-fold. The enzyme specific activity was 38.0 u./mg protein, Mr = 150 kD. The pH optimum for the angiotensin-converting enzyme towards Hip-His-Leu lies at 7.8, Km = 1.2 mM. The enzyme was inhibited by the substrate (Ks' = 14 mM). The enzyme effectively catalyzed the hydrolysis of angiotensin I (Km = 10 microM; kcat = 250 s-1). NaCl, CaCl2 as well as Na2SO4 in the absence of Cl- activated the enzyme, whereas CH3COONa and NaNO3 did not influence the enzyme activity. It was found that the bradykinin-potentiating factor inhibited the cardiac angiotensin-converting enzyme with IC50 = 4.0 X 10(-8) M.     

Protein-bound choline is released from the pneumococcal autolytic enzyme during adsorption of the enzyme to cell wall particles.

The inactive precursor form of the pneumococcal autolytic enzyme cloned in Escherichia coli was isolated by affinity chromatography on Sepharose-linked choline. The enzyme was recovered in an electrophoretically pure and activated form by elution from the affinity column with radioactive choline solution. When radioactive choline was used for elutions, the enzyme protein isolated contained protein-bound choline, at approximately 1 mol of choline per mol of enzyme protein, indicating the presence of a single choline recognition site. Radioactive choline remained bound to the enzyme protein during dialysis, precipitation by trichloroacetic acid or ammonium sulfate, and during gel filtration, but not during sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Incubation of the choline-labeled autolysin with pneumococcal cell walls at 0 degrees C resulted in the adsorption of the enzyme to the wall particles and a simultaneous release of free choline from the enzyme protein. It is suggested that the choline molecules that became bound to the enzyme protein during the activation of autolysin are expelled from the choline-binding site and replaced by choline residues from the wall teichoic acid as the autolysin molecules adsorb to their insoluble substrate before the onset of enzymatic wall hydrolysis.     

Molecular cloning of cDNA for rat liver general acyl CoA dehydrogenase and homology between the rat liver and pig kidney enzymes

cDNA clone for general acyl CoA dehydrogenase (GAD) was isolated from a rat liver cDNA expression library in lambda gt11 using anti-pig kidney GAD antibody. Size of the isolated cDNA was estimated to be 1.5-1.6 kb. By immunological analysis of fusion protein and epitope selection, the cDNA clone was identified as that containing the GAD gene. Partial amino acid sequence deduced from nucleotide sequence of the cDNA coincided with that of the pig kidney enzyme. The antibody cross-reacted with rat liver enzyme and molecular weights of these enzyme proteins were shown to be almost the same. All these results indicate that rat liver GAD shares a common structure with pig kidney enzyme.     

Homocitrate cures the NifV- phenotype in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Dinitrogenase was isolated from a culture of a Klebsiella pneumoniae NifV- strain derepressed for nitrogenase in the presence of homocitrate. The enzyme isolated from this culture was identical to the wild-type dinitrogenase. These data provide in vivo evidence that the absence of homocitrate is responsible for the NifV- phenotype.     

The structure of the covalent flavin adduct formed between lactate oxidase and the suicide substrate 2-hydroxy-3-butynoate.

2-Hydroxy-3-butynoic acid is a suicide substrate for Mycobacterium smegmatis lactate oxidase. Inactivation occurs by covalent modification of enzyme-bound FMN and does not involve labeling of the apoprotein. The spectrum of the enzyme bound adduct suggests that it is a 4a, 5-dihydroflavin derivative. When this adduct is released from the enzyme, a complex mixture of unstable compounds is obtained. When the initially formed enzyme-bound adduct is reduced with NaBH4, a major stable species can be resolved from the enzyme and can be isolated and purified. The structure was established by appropriate isotope substitutions. Fourier transform NMR spectroscopy, chemical reactivity, and synthesis of a model compound. The structure of the isolated adduct is structure II, Scheme II. The structure proposed for the adduct initially formed on the enzyme is structure VII, Scheme II.     

Calculation of the molecular masses of two newly synthesized thermostable enzymes isolated from thermophilic microorganisms

Two thermostable enzymes synthesized by thermophilic microorganisms were isolated and purified. A thermostable ß-galactosidase was produced in a continuous fermentation process by Bacillus stearothermophilus TP 32 as an intracellular enzyme. After applying different concentration procedures the raw extract enzyme was prepurified on a Sephadex G-200 size exclusion column. The isolated ß-galactosidase fraction was then separated with HPLC on a TSK G 3000 SW size exclusion column to determine the molecular mass based on calibration curves of standard proteins. The other enzyme, a thermostable protease, was synthesized by Bacillus stearothermophilus TP 26 as an extracellular enzyme. After its concentration, the enzyme was purified on a classical size exclusion column (Sephacryl S-200) and on a HPLC size exclusion column (BIO-SIL TSK-250). The micropreparatively isolated fraction was separated again on this HPLC column to determine its molecular mass. The optimum temperature of both enzymes was approximately 75°C.     

Purification and partial amino acid sequences of the enzyme vinorine synthase involved in a crucial step of ajmaline biosynthesis

The acetyl-CoA-dependent enzyme vinorine synthase was isolated from hybrid cell suspension cultures of Rauvolfia serpentina and Rhazya stricta. The sarpagan-type alkaloid gardneral was used as a substrate of the enzyme leading to the ajmalan-type 10-methoxyvinorine. An HPLC-based assay was developed to monitor vinorine synthase activity, which allowed establishing a five step purification procedure combining anion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, hydroxyapatite and gel filtration. Purification resulted in a yield of 0.2% and an approximately 991-fold enrichment of the acetyltransfer activity. SDS-PAGE analysis showed a Mr for the enzyme of approximately 50 kDa. The four peptide fragments generated by proteolysis of the pure enzyme with endoproteinase LysC and the N-terminal part of the enzyme were sequenced. The enzyme preparation (> 875-fold enrichment) delivering the N-terminal sequence was isolated from R. serpentina cell suspensions. Sequence alignment of the five peptides showed highest homologies in a range of 30-71% to acetyltransferases from other higher plants involved in natural plant product biosynthesis. Based on the partial sequences vinorine synthase is probably a novel member of the BAHD enzyme super family.