Alterations of mouse embryo cells during in vitro aging

Trichocysts from the ciliated protozoan Paramecium aurelia have been solubilized in aqueous solution at neutral pH by heating to temperatures of 70 °C for 10 min. The product of such solubilization appears identical to that achieved by the previous method using trichocysts solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) when examined by SDS polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. While the solubilization of the trichocyst is virtually total in distilled water, no more than 20% of the total protein solubilizes in the presence of salts even in amounts as low as 0.05 M. Heat solubilized trichocysts show two principal components when run on standard 10% polyacrylamide disc gels and two bands when run on SDS polyacrylamide disc gels. The relationship between the two bands seen on standard gels and the two bands seen on SDS gels is unknown at this time. These results represent the first successful solubilization of this organelle in aqueous solution at neutral pH as opposed to previous reports requiring strong denaturants such as SDS, guanidine hydrochloride, and pH extremes. While the solubilization of trichocysts by heat most probably results in denaturation of the constituent proteins, it does occur in aqueous solution without the use of strong denaturants or pH extremes allowing the use of standard analytical procedures not possible in the presence of these reagents.     

Identification of Xenopus laevis sperm and egg envelope binding components on nitrocellulose membranes

Interacting egg envelope and sperm surface components were identified for Xenopus laevis using blotting methods. Sperm were extracted with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), the extracted proteins separated by gel electrophoresis and blotted, and the blots treated with 125I-labeled heat solubilized envelopes. The converse experiment was also performed where envelope components were separated by gel electrophoresis, blotted, and the blots treated with 125I-labeled sperm components. Blotted sperm components with apparent molecular weights of 14K, 19K, 25K, and 35K selectively bound the solubilized envelopes. All of the envelope binding components were found to be localized on the sperm surface by radioiodinating intact sperm using Iodo-Gen. The blotted egg envelope component with an apparent molecular weight of 37K selectively bound to solubilized sperm components, and this binding was due to the protein moiety of the glycoprotein. 125I-labeled heat solubilized envelopes from unfertilized and fertilized eggs showed the same pattern of binding to blotted sperm components. Selected sulfated carbohydrates (fucoidan, dextran sulfate, and heparin, but not chondroitin sulfate) inhibited fertilization and binding of 125I-labeled heat solubilized envelopes to blotted sperm extract. Thus, the binding of heat solubilized envelopes to electrophoretically separated and blotted sperm proteins may reflect cellular interactions.     

Effect of detergents on the enzyme activities of the rat liver plasma membrane

The anionic detergents sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Alipal CO-433 and the non-ionic detergent Trition X-100 at concentrations of 0.02–0.10% cause a more rapid solubilization of phospholipid than proteins in isolated rat liver plasma membranes. All three detergents cause an increase in membrane turbidity at low detergent concentration (0.01–0.04%) but then decrease the turbidity at higher detergent concentration (0.04–0.10%). Each detergent gives a characteristic turbidity-detergent concentration profile which is pH dependent.The activities of the membrane-bound enzymes Mg²⁺ ATPase, 5′-nucleotidase and acid and aklaline phosphatase were influenced by each detergent to a different extent. Each enzyme gave a characteristic activity-detergent concentration profile. Mg²⁺ ATPase was inhibited by all detergents. 5′-Nucleotidase was stimulated by Triton and Alipal but inhibited by SDS. Alkaline phosphatase was stimulated by Alipal and SDS and not influenced by Triton. Acid phosphatase was stimulated by Triton and inhibited by Alipal and SDS. 56% of the total membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase and 23% of the total membrane-bound 5′-nucleotidase was solubilized in an active form by 0.06% and 0.05% SDS respectively.     

Turbidity and Hardness of a Heat-induced Gel of Hen Egg Ovalbumin

The turbidity and hardness of a heat-induced gel prepared from ovalbumin were examined at various pHs and ionic strengths. Depending on the conditions of the medium, a transparent solution, transparent gel, turbid gel, or turbid suspension was obtained by heating. The hardness was a maximum with the conditions that gave a transparent or slightly turbid gel. The gel and coagulums were solubilized by 1% SDS, but not by 6 m urea or 50 mm mercaptoethanol. The solution obtained by SDS treatment contained polymers shorter than octamers.     

A study of membrane glycoproteins from the rat brain using D-galactose-specific lectin

Immobilized D-galactose-specific lectin from Zea mais was used to purify rat brain membrane glycoproteins. The membrane glycoproteins preliminarily washed from soluble proteins were solubilized consecutively by 2% triton X-100 and 1% SDS. PAG-electrophoresis with SDS and 2-mercaptoethanol revealed 10 polypeptide bands (Mm 109, 62, 59, 54, 51, 42, 16, 14, 12.5 and 12 kDa) in the membrane fraction of glycoproteins solubilized with triton X-100. Additional solubilization with SDS revealed 3 bands (Mm 109, 62, and 54 kDa). Only 3 polypeptide bands (Mm 62, 59, 42 kDa) were identified when analogous procedure was used for purification of the rat liver glycoproteins. Horse radish peroxidase labelled D-galactose-specific lectin from Zea mais was found to bind to neuron bodies and neurites in the cerebellum. It is suggested that the identified brain-specific membrane glycoproteins may take part in the cell adhesion between neurons.     

Properties of intact and univalent (Fab) antibodies raised against isolated, solubilized, mouse zonae pellucidae

Intact and univalent antibodies were prepared against mechanically isolated mouse zonae pellucidae solubilized in a variety of ways (heat, low pH, SDS, urea and trypsin). The antisera bound avidly and specifically to solubilized iodinated zona antigens and the intact zona structure. When the concentrations of immunoreactive Fab material in the intact and univalent antibody preparations were equalized and compared for their ability to block the sperm-binding stage of fertilization, only the intact gamma-globulin preparations possessed antifertility activity. These results indicate that antibodies raised against intact solubilized zonae pellucidae block fertilization by cross-linking antigens on the outer zona surface, thereby indirectly masking the sperm receptor sites. The integrity of these surface components did not appear to be affected by solubilization procedures that disrupt non-covalent bonds (heating, low pH, SDS and urea) although they did appear to be adversely affected by trypsin treatment. None of the antisera tested contained antibodies directed against the sperm receptor site indicating that these critical components lack immunogenicity.     

Purification and Properties of meso-α,∊-Diaminopimelate Decarboxylase from Bacillus sphaericus

Soybean 7S and 11S globulins were stored at relative humidities (RHs) of 11% and 96% at 50°C. The redispersibility of the proteins at RH 96% decreased in a short time. However, it did not decrease, when stored for 45 days at RH 11%. Gel filtration showed that the proteins polymerized during storage. The effects of urea, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) on the redispersibilities of the proteins at RH 96% showed that the hydrogen, hydrophobic and disulfide bonds participate in the polymerization of 7S globulin, and that the disulfide bond is strongly related to the polymerization of 11S globulin. Redispersibility was restored with 2-ME in both the 7S and 11S globulins and some of the proteins in the supernatant redispersed with 2-ME were observed to be similar to the native ones with respect to the gel filtration, electrophoretic behavior and circular dichroism spectrum.     

Physical Aggregation and Functional Reconstitution of Solubilized Membranes of Bacillus stearothermophilus

Isolated membranes of Bacillus stearothermophilus 2184D can be disrupted by treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). This disruption is attended by a decreased turbidity of membrane suspensions and a differential loss of activities of the electron transport system. Reduced methyl viologen (MVH)-nitrate reductase activity is insensitive to SDS treatment, whereas reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-nitrate reductase and cyanide-sensitive NADH oxidase activities are decreased by 80% at an SDS concentration of 0.5 mg/mg of membrane protein. NADH-menadione reductase activity is unaffected at this SDS concentration, but at higher detergent levels it also decreases in activity. The abilities of NADH to reduce and nitrate to oxidize the cytochrome components of the membrane were also decreased after SDS treatment. Dilution of solubilized membrane in buffer containing divalent cation results in formation of an aggregate with an increased turbidity and reconstituted NADH-nitrate reductase and cyanide-sensitive NADH oxidase activities. Of several cations tested, magnesium was the most effective, and the reconstitution process was pH-dependent with an optimum at pH 7.4. Intact and aggregated membranes had similar densities and cytochrome contents, and the sensitivity of NADH-nitrate reductase to several inhibitors was similar in intact and reconstituted membranes.     

Two-dimensional electrophoresis of soybean root plasma membrane proteins solubilized by SDS and other detergents

Proteins solubilized from enriched soybean root plasma membrane with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and selected non-denaturing detergents (octyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, Zwittergent 312, Zwittergent 314, Zonyl FSK, and Nonidet P-40) were electrophoresed in two-dimensions by standard procedures. The basic electrophoretogram ‘fingerprint’ was similar for all detergents tested. However, differences in the total number of polypeptides resolved and the presence or absence of certain polypeptides on specific two-dimensional gels indicated some selectivity. Of all detergents tested, SDS solubilized the most polypeptides (ca 95) and provided the best resolution. The other detergents solubilized 50–80 polypeptides with varying resolution. Of those tested, octyl-β-d-glucopyranoside consistently provided the best balance between the number of polypeptides resolved (ca 70) and the level of resolution. The results suggest that selected detergents may prove useful in plant plasma membrane studies which require non-denaturing conditions.     

Vitelline coat of Unio elongatulus egg: I. Isolation and biochemical characterization

In this study we isolated and purified the vitelline coat (vc) of Unio elongatulus eggs in order to investigate its protein and carbohydrate composition. SDS dissolved up to 80% of the vitelline coat protein content whereas 100 mM Ammonimum acetate (AA) at pH 11 and 1 mM lithium diiodosalicylate (LISH) dissolved only 40–50%. The ability of extremes of pH or LIS to solubilize the vitelline coats on eggs was then investigated. The results showed that pH from 7 to 11 progressively dissolved the vitelline coats without gross damage to the oocytes. SDS-PAGE of the solubilized material revealed only two components corresponding to the main components revealed by SDS-PAGE of the isolated vcs. These peptides have an apparent MW of 220 and 180 kD, are ConA positive, and seem to be connected to each other to form polycomponents. The latter feature is suggested by the electrophoretic pattern of the solubilized material under nondenaturing conditions. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Methylation and demethylation of solubilized chemoreceptors from thermophilic bacterium PS-3

Methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs) were solubilized from the membrane of thermophilic bacterium PS-3 in the presence of Triton X-100. The solubilized MCPs could be methylated and demethylated. Methylation of the solubilized MCPs reached a steady state, at which the methylation and demethylation rates were equal. The solubilized MCPs were purified by anti-MCPs Sepharose 4B column chromatography. The purified MCPs could also be methylated and demethylated without reconstituting them into liposomes. As suggested by the results of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified MCPs, ion-exchange chromatography showed that MCPs consisted of at least two components. Each component appeared on SDS gel electrophoresis as multiple bands in the 64K to 70K dalton range or in the 70K to 84K dalton range. The initial rate and level of methylation of the solubilized MCPs were increased by the addition of attractants: glutamate, L-serine, L-aspartate, D-glucose, etc. The threshold of the glutamate concentration for this increase was about 10(-7) M. The rate of demethylation was also increased by attractants.     

the stability in various detergents of transferrin-transferrin receptor complexes from reticulocyte plasma membranes

Transferrin-membrane protein complexes were solubilized either with 0.4% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 1% Triton X-100 or 0.5% sulfobetaine 3-14 from the plasma membranes of rabbit reticulocytes previously labeled with 125I and then incubated with 131-labeled transferrin. When the solubilized membranes were analyzed by gel filtration fractionation, marked variation in the preservation of transferrin-transferrin receptor interaction was noted between the three detergents. After SDS solubilization, more than 80% of the 131I-labeled transferrin remained associated with membrane proteins with apparent molecular weight of the transferrin-receptor complexes of 1400 000 and 240 000. In contrast, after Triton X-100 solubilization only 40% of the transferrin was still complexed to membrane proteins with an apparent molecular weight of the complex of 450 000. Dissociation of transferrin from its receptor was most marked following sulfobetaine solubilization, with less than 30% of the transferrin still complexed. Following gel filtration 131I-labeled transferrin-125I-labeled membrane protein complexes were immunoprecipitated with goat specific anti-rabbit transferrin antibodies. The immunoprecipitates were analyzed under stringent dissociating conditions by two SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic techniques. In a linear 5-25% polyacrylamide gradient the 125I-labeled receptor obtained after membrane solubilization with all three detergents had an apparent molecular weight of 80 000. In contrast, in a different system using 10% polyacrylamide gel two 125I-labeled receptor components were detected wih apparent molecular weights of 90 000 and 80 000. These results demonstrate that estimates of the molecular weight of the transferrin receptor depended on the conditions of electrophoresis and suggest that the transferrin receptor is partially modified, perhaps by glycosylation.     

7S Globulins from Phaseolus vulgaris L.: Impact of Structural Aspects on the Nutritional Quality

7S globulins were extracted from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds and characterized. SDS–PAGE showed major bands corresponding to the phaseolin subunits (43–53 kDa). An amino acid analysis indicated that, in spite of the limited amounts of sulphur amino acids and tryptophan, the globulins contained very high levels of essential amino acids. The protein solubility profiles of native and denatured (120 °C for 20 min) 7S globulins in water and in 0.5 M NaCl showed that NaCl had a limited effect on increasing the solubility of either the native or denatured proteins. The in vivo small intestinal digestibility of the 7S globulins was 90%, this being decreased to 86% after a thermal treatment. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed a high content of β-sheet and β-turn structures, together with a contribution at 1687 cm^?1 that was assigned to intramolecular β-sheets. These features are diagnostic of a high propensity to irreversible aggregation that may be related to an adverse effect on the protein quality.     

Na+-Ca2+ exchange in rat brain microsomal membranes pretreated with pronase and/or SDS

The effects of pronase and/or SDS pretreatment on Na+-Ca2+ exchange were studied in rat brain microsomal membranes. Pronase in concentrations that liberated 11% of the membrane proteins stimulated the Na+-Ca2+ exchange. When about 24% of the proteins were split off, the results did not differ from those in control experiments. When 40% or more of the proteins were solubilized, Na+-Ca2+ exchange was abolished. Pronase pretreatment did not change the Km value for Ca2+, it increased Vmax only. The effect of pronase was partially blocked by Trasylol. Neuraminidase had no effect on Na+-Ca2+ exchange. SDS pretreatment of the membranes inhibited Na+-Ca2+ exchange: when 25% of membrane proteins were solubilized with SDS, the Na+-Ca2+ exchange was abolished while the same amount of proteins split off with pronase did not change the rate of Na+-Ca2+ exchange as related to membrane proteins. Ischaemia lasting for 2-4 h or complete hypoxia which should stimulate endogenous proteinases due to the rise of free intracellular calcium did not influence the Na+-Ca2+ exchange. A decrease in Na+-Ca2+ exchange rate was observed when proteins with molecular weight between 45,000 and 20,000 were split off from the membranes. It is assumed that the Na+-Ca2+ antiporter is a polypeptide from the group of proteins within the above molecular weights.     

Distance between the propylbenzilylcholine mustard attachment site and carbohydrates and thiol groups in muscarinic acetylcholine receptor protein from rat cerebral cortex.

When rat cerebral-cortex membranes were labelled with [3H]propylbenzilylcholine mustard ([3H]PrBCM), a single protein of Mr 68,000 was found to carry the atropine-sensitive covalent label. After trypsinolysis of the receptors solubilized in 0.075% SDS, the resulting fragments were submitted to size analysis in combination with wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA)-Sepharose and organomercurial-agarose chromatography. Peptides of Mr 75,000, 50,000, 30,000, 18,000 and 8000 were specifically released from the receptor. All fragments above Mr 8000 were able to bind WGA-Sepharose and therefore the peptide of Mr 18,000 was taken as the upper limit of the distance between the antagonist and the glycan moieties. The limit fragment of Mr 8000 carried chemical groups which were modified by N-ethylmaleimide and reacted with an immobilized organomercurial. About 65-80% of the labelled receptors were adsorbed on concanavalin A-Sepharose with low affinity, generating two further components after sequential application to WGA-Sepharose. About 50% of the receptors were susceptible to neuraminidase treatment, with a concomitant slight modification of the SDS/polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoretic pattern.     

Larval cuticle proteins of Lucilia cuprina: Electrophoretic separation,quantification and developmental changes

Proteins from isolated cuticles of third instar larvae of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, have been solubilized with water or 7 M urea or 2% SDS. While 7 M urea or 2% SDS extract significantly more protein than water, the same major proteins, in the same relative proportions, are extracted by all three solutions. More than 80% of the cuticular protein is extracted by 7 M urea or 2% SDS. Extracted proteins resolve into nine major bands when analysed by gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These proteins are anionic, relatively low in molecular weight (13–28 kd) and are essentially free of carbohydrate. Only minor differences exist between the proteins of two morphologically distinct cuticular regions. Cuticle proteins, extracted from larvae at different developmental stages (first, second and third instars) display quantitatively and qualitatively unique electrophoretic profiles. A number of proteins are common to all stages however. The electrophoretic profiles of proteins extracted from larval cuticles at various times within an instar also differ although the differences are largely quantitative. This is particularly evident during the transition from the feeding to the wandering stages of the third instar; the weight of the cuticle relative to that of the larva increases and this is accompanied by marked changes in the electrophoretic profile of the cuticle proteins.     

Proteins of axonal transport: investigation of solubility characteristics and behaviour in gel filtration

Rapid axonal transport of proteins in retinal ganglion cells of the rabbit was studied following intraocular injections of labelled amino acids. Approximately 10% of the transported radioactivity was found in the supernatant following homogenization and high-speed centrifugation of the nerve terminal region. Relatively simple manipulations with ionic strength, pH and the presence of a chelating agent could solubilize an equivalent amount of radioactivity from the pellet. Lithium diiodosalicylate solubilized most rapidly transported membrane proteins. Gel filtration of readily soluble rapidly transported radioactivity gave a main macromolecular radioactive peak with an approximate mol. wt. of 500,000 dalton as determined on Sephadex G-200. However, gel filtration on Sepharose CL-6B gave a mol. wt. of about 160,000 for the same radioactive peak. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of rapidly transported soluble proteins and fractions derived from these proteins via gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography revealed in all cases a very complex picture of labelled polypeptides. Thus rapid axonal transport of soluble proteins in this system seems to involve many different macromolecules.     

Echinococcus granulosus: use of an intermediate host mouse model to evaluate sources of protective antigens and a role for antibody in the immune response.

A Balb/cJ mouse model was used to determine which stage of the E. granulosus life cycle possessed the most potent protective antigens. Mice were immunized with crude extracts of protoscoleces, brood capsules, cyst fluid, adult worm tissue, eggs or oncospheres and then challenged intraperitoneally with 600 activated oncospheres. Sonically disrupted oncospheres induced the highest levels of protection (greater than 90%) at doses greater than or equal to 10(3) oncosphere equivalents per mouse. High levels of protection were maintained when these preparations were solubilized in SDS. Immunization with Taenia ovis or T. hydatigena oncosphere preparations induced a maximum of 62 and 40% cross-protection, respectively. In passive transfer experiments, serum from triple-infected immune donors that were completely resistant to subsequent challenge induced 69% protection in naive recipients (P less than 0.01). Serum from mice that had been immunized with oncosphere sonicates that were shown to be highly immune, failed to induce statistically significant protection in recipients. A sheep trial confirmed the protective ability of prior infections. Immunization of sheep with a SDS solubilized oncosphere preparation produced 91% protection (P less than 0.01).     

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the membrane-bound protein complexes, including photosystem I, of thylakoid membranes in the presence of sodium oligooxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate/dimethyl dodecylamine oxide and sodium dodecyl sulfate

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), using a mixture of sodium oligooxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate and dimethyl dodecylamine oxide as detergents (AES-DDAO mixture) in the first dimension and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the second dimension, was developed and applied to an analysis of the photosystem I (PS I) complex in thylakoid membranes prepared from spinach chloroplasts. When thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts were solubilized directly in the AES-DDAO mixture and subjected to PAGE in the presence of these detergents as the first dimension, some protein complexes containing chlorophyll were observed. The protein components in these complexes separated into an array of polypeptide spots when the strip of gel after PAGE in the first dimension was subjected to PAGE in the presence of SDS as the second dimension. The main band of protein which separated in the first dimension was demonstrated to be the PS I complex. This complex retained the intrinsic photochemical activity of P700 even after it was subjected to one-dimensional PAGE. These results suggest that certain protein complexes can be separated, with the maintenance of their original structures, by electrophoresis in the presence of the AES-DDAO mixture, and this method appears to have valuable potential for analysis of the components of membrane-bound protein complexes.     

Proteins of aleurone grains isolated from cotyledons ofLupinus luteus L.

Lupin aleurone grains from dry cotyledons contain about 87% of globulin including 57% of proteins solubilized by NaCl solution and 30% by NaOH extractions, and also about 12% of albumin. Activity of acid protease with the optimum at pH 3.6-3.8 was associated with albumin. Albumin was separated by gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA 22 into 3 fractions with mol. m. 179 000, 113 000, and below 100 000, respectively. The component with mol. m. 113 000 prevailed and comprised about 60% of albumin. Globulin was composed mainly of two major components with mol. m. above 364 000 and about 280 000. These correspond to α-and β-conglutin fractions, respectively. γ-conglutin minor globulin fraction of lupin aleurone grains was composed of about 66% glycoprotein. In contrast, about 82% of albumin lack glycosylation. Essentially, globulins in lupin aleurone grains are glycoprotein.