Purification of bisphosphoglyceromutase, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase and phosphoglyceromutase from human erthrocytes. Three enzyme activities in one protein.

Bisphosphoglyceromutase, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase and phosphoglyceromutase have been purified from human red cells. Three enzymes were co-purified throughout all purification steps. Three fractions (peaks I, II and III) which were chromatographically separable and had three activities in different ratios were obtained. Peak III which contained the main bisphosphoglyceromutase and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase activities was purified to homogeneity by electrophoretic and ultracentrifugal analyses. The homogeneous preparation had the phosphoglyceromutase activity. The three activities were lost at the same rate during thermal inactivation. Thus, bisphosphoglyceromutase and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase activities, which are responsible for 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate metabolism in red cells, are displayed by the same enzyme protein which has phosphoglyceromutase activity. Peaks I and II were rich in the phosphoglyceromutase activity. Both peaks showed bisphosphoglyceromutase and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase activities, although these two activities were much smaller than those of peak III. Some of the enzymic properties of peak III are described. Comparative studies on three peaks showed that the phosphoglyceromutase of peak III differed from that of peaks I and II in the kinetic property and thermostability.     

Partial characterization of the inactive mutant form of human red cell bisphosphoglyceromutase and comparison with an alkylated form

The trifunctional enzyme bisphosphoglyceromutase (or diphosphoglycerate mutase) (EC 2.7.5.4) was purified from human red cells and injected into two chickens. Specific anti-bisphosphoglyceromutase antibodies were produced that displayed a single precipitation line on Ouchterlony plates and on immunoelectrophoresis. No cross-reaction of these antibodies was detected with phosphoglyceromutase, the common glycolytic enzyme. Immunoneutralization of bisphosphoglyceromutase and of its two other activities, i.e., bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase and phosphoglyceromutase, was observed for a purified preparation. The anti-bisphosphoglyceromutase antibody reacts with the inactive enzyme present in the hemolysate of a mutant human subject. It also binds bisphosphoglyceromutase inactivated by N-ethylmaleimide, a strong alkylating agent of SH groups. Active bisphosphoglyceromutase is stable at 55°C, whereas the inactive forms of the mutant and of the alkylated hemolysates are thermolabile. These forms can be protected against thermal precipitation by 4 mM 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and 4 mM 3-phosphoglycerate. These findings afford evidence that the binding of the substrates on the bisphosphoglyceromutase molecule is not prevented by alkylation nor by the mutation of the hereditary inactive enzyme.     

Subunit structure and multifunctional properties of yeast phosphoglyceromutase.

1. A new and efficient method for preparation of pure phosphoglyceromutase from baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is described. Proteolytic alterations of the enzyme during extraction can be minimized by grinding the dried yeast with aluminium oxide at low temperature. 2. Yeast phosphoglyceromutase contains four highly similar, probably idential subunits of molecular weight 28000, a conclusion based on the following observations. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis containing dodecylsulphate or urea gives a single band, indicating that the enzyme is composed of four subunits similar in their molecular weight and net charge. Cyanogen bromide cleavage and tryptic digestion of the enzyme yield the number of peptides expected for identical subunites from the amino acid composition analysis. 3. The purified phosphoglyceromutase preparation has bisphosphoglyceromutase activity synthesizing 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate from 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate and 3-phosphoglycerate. It has been reported that yeast phosphoglyceromutase catalyzes the hydrolysis of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate at the same active site which catalyzes the phosphoglyceromutase reaction [Sasaki, R. et al (1971) Biochim. Biophys, Acta, 227, 584-594, 595-607]. Immunological studies and chemical modification experiments indicate that bisphosphoglyceromutase activity also is due to the phosphoglyceromutase protein and involves amino groups which have been shown to be essential for the other two activities.     

Rabbit M type phosphoglyceromutase: comparative effects of two thiol reagents antibody reaction and hybridization studies

1. Treatment of purified rabbit phosphoglyceromutase (M type) with N-ethylmaleimide or with iodoacetamide produces the concurrent loss of phosphoglyceromutase activity with its collateral glycerate-2,3-P2 phosphatase activity. 2. Differences are observed in the protective effect of glycerate-2,3-P2 and of glycolate-2-P against N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetamide treatments. 3. Specific chicken antibodies obtained by injection of the purified rabbit M type phosphoglyceromutase do not cross-react with the B type but neutralize both rabbit and human M type phosphoglyceromutase. 4. Purified rabbit M type phosphoglyceromutase can hybridize in vitro with the purified human B type or with purified human glycerate-2,3-P2 synthase. 5. Its ability to hybridize with glycerate-2,3-P2 synthase is unchanged after iodoacetamide treatment.     

The comparative effects of three formulations of diazinon on cropping of a hybrid and a non-hybrid strain of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus

Three formulations of diazinon: flowable granules (FG); wettable powder (WP); and emulsifiable concentration (EC), which are used for the control of mushroom pests, were compared for toxicity towards a hybrid and non-hybrid strain of the cultivated mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. With all formulations, yield and number of mushrooms were reduced according to dosage (linear trend). The EC was the most toxic and persistent formulation – equally so to both mushroom strains – and produced the most severe responses in all the parameters considered. The WP was the least toxic formulation. The hybrid strain was more susceptible to diazinon than the non-hybrid, but not markedly so.     

Investigation of some yield and fibre quality characteristics of interspecific hybrid (Gossypium hirsutum L. x G. barbadense L.) cotton varieties

Interspecific hybrid cottons (Gossypium hirsutum L. x G. barbadense L.) have great both yield and quality potential. This study was conducted to determine potential yields and quality characteristics of hybrid cotton varieties in southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey. The experiment was set out a completely randomized block design with four replications during 2003 and 2004 at University of Dicle, Faculty of Agriculture Experimental Field. Seven interspecific hybrid cotton varieties (48-08, Sevilla, Europe, Ica, Etna, 14-08 and Acalpi) which were obtained from Israel, and commonly grown varieties in this region, non-hybrid cotton varieties, GW Teks and DP-Opal were used as the materials of the study. Difference among the cultivars was significant for all traits except sympodial branch. Maximum number of boll and lint yield was 20.18 n plant(-1) and 1685.8 kg ha(-1) from interspecific hybrid cotton Ica, while interspecific hybrid cotton Europe recorded the lowest number of boll and lint yield. Interspecific hybrid cotton varieties showed higher value for fibre length, fibre fineness and fibre strength than non-hybrid cotton varieties. The longest fibres were obtained from Acalpi and Etna (34.08 and 33.88 mm), while non-hybrid varieties, DP-Opal and GW-Teks, had the lowest fibre length, 28.50 and 30.03 mm, respectively. The finest fibres obtained from Ica and 48-08 (3.42 and 3.45 mic.), the strongest fibres from Etna and Acalpi (40.07 and 40.23 g tex(-1)), and most elongation fibres from Acalpi (8.00%) and Sevilla (7.45%). Lint yield correlated positive and significant with fiber length.     

Reproductive success of nuclear nonhybrid males of Squalius alburnoides hybridogenetic complex (Teleostei, Cyprinidae): an example of interplay between female choice and ecological pressures?

The hybridogenetic fish complex Squalius alburnoides comprises diploid males with non-hybrid nuclear genomes and several hybrid forms varying in ploidy and relative proportions of the parental genomes. In this paper, we present evidence that in captivity females prefer to mate with non-hybrid males. We suggest that female choice combined with different ecological requirements of hybrid and non-hybrid males may explain the extreme variation in the relative abundance of male types among drainages.Electronic Supplementary Materials Supplementary material is available for this article at     

Heterosis, the catapult effect and establishment success of a colonizing bird

The genetic basis of population colonization is poorly understood, particularly in animals. Here, I introduce the idea of a 'catapult effect' to explain how the effects of transient increases in fitness can be retained in population demography diminishing the chance of extinction. I tested this idea using information on historical introductions of hybrid and non-hybrid pheasants in the United States. I found that hybrid pheasants were 2.2 times more likely to establish than non-hybrid strains. Analysis of fitness components failed to support the alternative that the increased odds of establishment resulted from increased genetic variation conferring permanent fitness benefits through directional selection or by purging deleterious alleles. These results show that even ephemeral increases in fitness can affect the persistence of small populations.     

Distribution of Hybrid Fungal Symbionts and Environmental Stress

Most asexual fungal symbionts of grasses in the genus Neotyphodium occurring in nature are of hybrid origin. Most hybrid Neotyphodium species result from interspecific hybridization events between pathogenic Epichloë species or co-occurring non-hybrid Neotyphodium species. Current hypotheses for the prevalence of hybrid Neotyphodium species include reduction of mutation accumulation and increased adaptive response to environmental extremes. We tested the adaptive response hypothesis by characterizing the distribution of uninfected, hybrid, and non-hybrid Neotyphodium endophytes in 24 native Arizona fescue host populations and abiotic parameters at each locality. Infection was high in all host populations (>70%), but the majority of host populations were infected by non-hybrid Neotyphodium (>50% on average). Principal component analysis indicates the frequency of plants infected with hybrid fungi is negatively related to soil nutrients and positively correlated with early spring moisture. Non-hybrid infected hosts are positively associated with soil nutrients and show a complex relationship with soil moisture (negative in early spring moisture, positive with late summer soil moisture). These results suggest the frequency of uninfected, hybrid, and non-hybrid infected plants is related to resource availability and abiotic stress factors. This supports the hypothesis that hybridization in asexual fungal symbionts increases host adaptability to extreme environments.     

Examination of the hybrid origin of the wild potato Solanum ruiz-lealii Brücher

The common potato, tetraploid Solanum tuberosum spp. tuberosum L. (tbr), has a narrow genetic base but a large number of related tuber-bearing species that harbor genetic diversity for agronomic characters. The taxonomic status of Solanum ruiz-lealii Brücher (rzl), a diploid species endemic to Mendoza province, Argentina, is controversial. It has been described as a new species of non-hybrid origin and as a natural hybrid between S. kurtzianum Bitt. & Wittm. (ktz) and S. chacoense Bitt. (chc). The hypothesis of the hybrid origin of rzl is examined systematically for the first time by phenetic analyses of morphological and molecular (SSR markers) data, and cytological analyses of interspecific hybrids. The morphological, cytological and molecular data are congruent, and suggest that rzl is not a recent natural hybrid between the ktz and the chc populations studied but has probably originated by divergence of chc, or by hybridization between chc and another taxon.     

Mode of origin differentially influences the fitness of parthenogenetic freshwater snails

How parthenogenetic lineages arise from sexual ancestors may strongly influence their persistence over evolutionary time. Hybrid parthenogens often have elevated heterozygosity and ploidy, thus making it difficult to disentangle the influence of reproductive mode, hybridity and ploidy on their relative fitness. By comparing the relative fitness of both hybrid and non-hybrid parthenogens to their sexual ancestors, further insight may be gained into how these three factors influence the maintenance of sexual and parthenogenetic reproduction. In the present study, hybrid and non-hybrid parthenogenetic and sexual snails (Campeloma sp.) were compared for the following characteristics: female size-fecundity curves, offspring size, survivorship, and growth. Compared to nearby sexual populations, triploid hybrid parthenogens from the Florida Gulf coast have similar fecundity and offspring size, five-times higher survivorship, and 60% higher growth. Relative to nearby sexual populations, non-hybrid parthenogenetic C. limum from the Atlantic coast have significantly higher fecundity, smaller offspring size, similar survivorship and slightly lower growth. Given the considerable fitness advantages of parthenogens, especially hybrid parthenogens, it is enigmatic as to why these parthenogens occupy marginal natural habitats.     

Reading the history of a hybrid fish complex from its molecular record

Squalius alburnoides is a widely distributed intergeneric hybrid complex with fish of both sexes, varying ploidy levels and proportions of the parental genomes. Its dispersal routes were here delineated and framed by the reconstruction of the phylogeny and phylogeography of other Squalius with which it hybridizes, based on the available data on the paleohydrographical history of the Iberian Peninsula. Results based on sequences of cytochrome b and beta-actin genes showed that: proto-Squalius pyrenaicus originated at least five species as it dispersed throughout the Iberian Peninsula in the Mio-Pliocene; the S. alburnoides complex likely had a single origin in the bulk of Iberia, in the Upper Tagus/Guadiana area, when hydrographical rearrangements allowed the contact between its ancestors (around 700,000 years ago); interspecific crosses allowed the introgression of mitochondrial and nuclear genes of S. alburnoides in allopatric species/populations of other Squalius and vice-versa; and reconstituted S. alburnoides non-hybrid males may contribute to the replacement of the typical mtDNA of the complex (in the populations where they occur, crosses with females of other Squalius seem to have been especially frequent). A number of dispersal events and colonization routes are proposed.     

Red cells of newborn rats have low bisphosphoglyceromutase and high pyruvate kinase activities in association with low 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate

2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate is a physiologically important regulator of red cell oxygen affinity during mammalian development. The rat has no fetal hemoglobin, but the newborn red cell has low 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate and high ATP concentrations, and high oxygen affinity. This report shows that red cell bisphosphoglyceromutase activity increases from near zero in the newborn rat to very high levels by four weeks of age. This increase roughly parallels the increase in red cell 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate concentration. Red cell pyruvate kinase activity declines ten-fold from birth to four weeks of age. This decrease is associated with a changeover in red cell populations from larger to smaller cells. The glycolytic rate is at least 50% higher in newborn than adult rat red cells. The data suggest that high pyruvate kinase activity and glycolytic rate contribute to the high ATP concentration in newborn rat red cells, but that their low 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate concentration is due primarily to low bisphosphoglyceromutase activity.     

An alternate method for demonstration of bisphosphoglyceromutase (DPGM) on starch gels

The phosphatase activity of bisphosphoglyceromutase (DPGM) was used to determine the phenotypes of the enzyme. DPGM was polymorphic in four Alaskan ethnic groups.     

Factors affecting field-scale production of seed of F1 hybrid Brussels sprouts

The two main factors involved in field-scale production of seed of F₁ hybrid Brussels sprouts are pollen availability and honeybee behaviour. Pollen availability depends upon the extent of winter survival of the parent inbreds, their flowering times, plant size and on the number of flowers per plant. Plant losses varied between inbreds and between sites and seasons. Differences in the commencement of flowering time in pairs of inbreds varied from 7 to 21 days, and plant size affected flower number. In hybrid seed-production there was a direct relationship between the number of mature flowers on each inbred and the percentage of non-hybrid seed produced from that inbred. Bees were highly selective in their visits to inbreds, and a mean selfing-to crossing-movement ratio of 30:1 was observed. This behaviour, together with pollen availability, greatly influenced the production of ‘sibs’. Radioactive experiments showed that the amount of cross-pollen carried by a bee decreased by about 30% at each flower visited but radioactive pollen grains were detected on the tenth flower visited. Of a number of factors investigated as possibly influencing bee behaviour, differences in flower colour and plant height were associated with discrimination between inbred lines.     

Hybrid Breakdown in Cichlid Fish

Studies from a wide diversity of taxa have shown a negative relationship between genetic compatibility and the divergence time of hybridizing genomes. Theory predicts the main breakdown of fitness to happen after the F1 hybrid generation, when heterosis subsides and recessive allelic (Dobzhansky-Muller) incompatibilities are increasingly unmasked. We measured the fitness of F2 hybrids of African haplochromine cichlid fish bred from species pairs spanning several thousand to several million years divergence time. F2 hybrids consistently showed the lowest viability compared to F1 hybrids and non-hybrid crosses (crosses within the grandparental species), in agreement with hybrid breakdown. Especially the short- and long-term survival (2 weeks to 6 months) of F2 hybrids was significantly reduced. Overall, F2 hybrids showed a fitness reduction of 21% compared to F1 hybrids, and a reduction of 43% compared to the grandparental, non-hybrid crosses. We further observed a decrease of F2 hybrid viability with the genetic distance between grandparental lineages, suggesting an important role for negative epistatic interactions in cichlid fish postzygotic isolation. The estimated time window for successful production of F2 hybrids resulting from our data is consistent with the estimated divergence time between the multiple ancestral lineages that presumably hybridized in three major adaptive radiations of African cichlids.     

One-step purification of hybrid proteins which have beta-galactosidase activity

A one-step purification method of hybrid proteins exhibiting beta-galactosidase activity, based on affinity chromatography in the presence of high salt concentration, is described. Starting from crude bacterial extracts, several milligrams of near-homogeneous proteins can be obtained in a few hours with an overall yield of 85 to 95%. The purified hybrid proteins can be used to obtain antibodies against the foreign portion of the protein fusion.     

Molecular analysis of the nuclear organellar genotype of somatic hybrid plants between tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and Lycopersicon chilense

Summary Somatic hybrid plants were recovered following fusion of leaf mesophyll protoplasts isolated from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cultivar UC82 with protoplasts isolated from suspension cultured cells of L. chilense, LA 1959. Iodoacetate was used to select against the growth of unfused tomato protoplasts. Two somatic hybrids were recovered in a population of 16 regenerants. No tomato regenerants were recovered; all of the non-hybrid regenerants were L. chilense. The L. chilense protoplast regenerants were tetraploid. The hybrid nature of the plants was verified using species-specific restriction fragment length polymorphisms for the nuclear, chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes. The somatic hybrids had inherited the chloroplast DNA of the tomato parent, and portions of the mitochondrial DNA of the L. chilense parent. The somatic hybrids formed flowers and developed seedless fruit.     

Cloning, expression and biochemical characterization of a basic-acidic hybrid phospholipase A2-II from Agkistrodon halys pallas

A cDNA encoding a basic-acidic hybrid phospholipase A2-II from Agkistrodon halys Pallas with an N-terminus highly homologous to that of BPLA2 and a C-terminus sequence almost the same as that of APLA2 was inserted into a bacterial expression vector and effectively expressed in Escherichia coli RR1. The protein was produced as insoluble inclusion bodies. After partial purification by washing, the inclusion bodies with Triton X-100, denaturing and refolding, the renatured recombinant protein was purified by FPLC column superose 12. The purified recombinant enzyme with an isoelectric point of pH 6.8 could cross-react with antiserum prepared against acidic phospholipase A2. The enzymatic activity of the expressed basic-acidic hybrid phospholipase A2-II is close to that of denatured-refolded native basic phospholipase A2, and has the same inhibiting effect on platelet aggregation as denatured-refolded acidic phospholipase A2, but lacks the hemolytic activity of denatured-refolded basic phospholipase A2. To study the structural relationships among basic phospholipase A2, acidic phospholipase A2 and basic-acidic hybrid phospholipase A2-II, molecular modeling of basic-acidic hybrid phospholipase A2-II was done. The roles of various amino acid residues in the enzymatic activity and pharmacological activities of phospholipase A2 are discussed.     

High-level expression of the recombinant hybrid peptide cecropinA(1-8)-magainin2(1-12) with an ubiquitin fusion partner in Escherichia coli

The hybrid antibacterial peptide CA-MA [cecropinA(1-8)-magainin2(1-12)] with potent antimicrobial properties but no hemolytic activity is a potential alternative antibiotic. To explore a new approach for high-level expression of the hybrid peptide CA-MA in Escherichia coli, the sequence of ubiquitin (UBI) from housefly was inserted into the plasmid pQE30 to construct the vector pQEUBI. The cDNA fragment encoding CA-MA with preferred codons of E. coli was obtained by recursive PCR (rPCR) and cloned into the vector pQEUBI to express the fusion protein (His)(6)-UBI-CA-MA. The fusion protein was expressed in soluble form under the optimized conditions at high level (more than 36% of the total proteins). With (His)(6)-tag, the fusion protein was easily purified by Ni-NTA chromatography and 36 mg of fusion protein was purified from 1L of culture medium. The fusion protein was efficiently cleaved by ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase (UCH), yielding recombinant CA-MA with high antimicrobial activity. After removing the contaminants by Ni-NTA chromatography, recombinant CA-MA was purified to homogeneity by reversed-phase HPLC and 6.8mg of pure active CA-MA was obtained from 1L culture medium. Analysis of recombinant CA-MA by MALDI-TOF-MS showed that the molecular weight of the purified recombinant CA-MA was 2559Da, which perfectly matches the mass (2559Da) calculated from the amino acid sequence. Analysis of CA-MA by circular dichroism (CD) revealed that the secondary structures of CA-MA in water solution were 17.4% alpha-helix and 82.6% random coil but no beta-sheet. Our results demonstrated that functional CA-MA can be produced in sufficient quantities using the ubiquitin fusion technique. This is the first report on the heterologous expression of a hybrid antibacterial peptide fused to ubiquitin in E. coli.