Action of fibrin-stabilizing factor on cold-insoluble globulin and alpha2-macroglobulin in clotting plasma.

Experiments were performed to investigate whether proteins other than fibrin are substrates for activated fibrin-stabilizing factor (FSF, blood coagulation Factor XIII, plasma transglutaminase) in clotting whole plasma. Three fluorescently labeled polypeptides were identified in serum prepared by clotting normal, but not FSF-deficient, plasma in the presence of the fluorescent amine, N-(5-aminopentyl)-5-dimethyl-aminonaphthalene-1-sulfonamide (dansylcadaverine). The major labeled polypeptide had a Mr (estimated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate) of 1.6 times 10(5) and was found in the protein fraction precipitated by 33 to 50% saturated ammonium sulfate. The second had a Mr of 2.0 times 10(5), was found in the protein fraction insoluble in 33% saturated ammonium sulfate, and was precipitated by gamma-globulin directed against cold-insoluble globulin. The third had a Mr of 1.1 times 10(5) and was precipitated by 33 to 50% saturated ammonium sulfate. All three polypeptides were found in the first protein peak when labeled serum was chromatographed on Sephadex G-200. The immunoprecipitin arc containing alpha2-macroglobulin was fluorescent when labeled serum was analyzed by immunoelectrophoresis. These results indicate that alpha2-macroglubulin, cold-insoluble globulin, and an unidentified third protein with a subunit of Mr = 1.1 times 10(5) are transamidated by FSF in clotting plasma. The concentration of cold-insoluble globulin was decreased in serum formed at 37 degrees from normal, but not from FSF-deficient, plasma. The depletion of cold-insoluble globulin in normal serum was partially blocked by clotting in the presence of dansylcadaverine and completely blocked by clotting in the absence of calcium ions. Sera formed at 2 degrees from both normal and FSF-deficient plasma contained less cold-insoluble globulin than plasma. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate of clots formed at 2 degrees demonstrated cross-linking of cold-insoluble globulin to fibrin in the normal, but not the FSF-deficient, sample. The serum concentration of alpha2-macroglobulin was the same as the plasma concentration irrespective of the conditions of clotting. Thus, the experiments suggest that FSF catalyzes the cross-linking of cold-insoluble globulin (but not alpha2-macroglobulin) to fibrin in clotting plasma.     

Requirements for alpha(5)beta(1) integrin-mediated retraction of fibronectin-fibrin matrices.

Retraction of the blood clot by nucleated cells contributes both to hemostasis and to tissue remodeling. Although plasma fibronectin (FN) is a key component of the clot, its role in clot retraction is unclear. In this report, we demonstrate that the incorporation of FN into fibrin matrices significantly improves clot retraction by nucleated cells expressing the integrin alpha(5)beta(1). Further, we show that FN-fibrin clots support increased cell spreading when compared with fibrin matrices. To determine the structural requirements for FN in this process, recombinant FN monomers deficient in ligand binding or fibrin cross-linking were incorporated into fibrin clots. We show that recombinant FN monomers support clot retraction by Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the integrin alpha(5)beta(1). This process depends on both the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and the synergy cell-binding sites and on covalent FN-fibrin binding, demonstrating that cross-linking within the clot is important for cell-FN interactions. These data show that alpha(5)beta(1) can bind to FN within a clot to promote clot retraction and support cell shape change. This provides strong evidence that alpha(5)beta(1)-FN interactions may contribute to the cellular events required for wound contraction.     

Fibronectin alters the rate of formation and structure of the fibrin matrix

Plasma fibronectin is a vital component of the fibrin clot; however its role on clot structure is not clearly understood. The goal of this study was to examine the influence of fibronectin on the kinetics of formation, structural characteristics and composition of reconstituted fibrin clots or fibrin matrices. Fibrin matrices were formed by adding thrombin to 1, 2 or 4 mg/ml fibrinogen supplemented with 0–0.4 mg/ml fibronectin. The rate of fibrin matrix formation was then monitored by measuring light absorbance properties at different time points. Confocal microscopy of fluorescein conjugated fibrinogen was used to visualize the structural characteristics of fibrin matrices. The amount of fibronectin in fibrin matrices was determined through electrophoresis and immunoblotting of solubilized matrices. Fibronectin concentration positively correlated with the initial rate of fibrin matrix formation and with steady state light absorbance values of fibrin matrices. An increase in fibronectin concentration resulted in thinner and denser fibers in the fibrin matrices. Electrophoresis and immunoblotting showed that fibronectin was covalently and non-covalently bound to fibrin matrices and in the form of high molecular weight multimers. The formation of fibronectin multimers was attributed to cross-linking of fibronectin by trace amounts Factor XIIIa. These findings are novel because they link results from light absorbance studies to microcopy analyses and demonstrate an influence of fibronectin on fibrin matrix structural characteristics. This data is important in developing therapies that destabilize fibrin clots.     

Incorporation of thrombospondin into fibrin clots

Thrombospondin is a major platelet glycoprotein which is released from platelets during blood coagulation. We examined the interaction of thrombospondin with polymerizing fibrin. Thrombospondin, purified from human platelets and labeled with 125I, became incorporated into clots formed from both plasma and purified fibrinogen. Plasma clots contained somewhat less thrombospondin than clots formed from equivalent concentrations of fibrinogen. In plasma clots and fibrin clots formed in the presence of factor XIII, thrombospondin was cross-linked in the clot; thrombospondin in the supernatant remained largely monomeric. Cross-linking of thrombospondin by factor XIII, however, only slightly increased the amount of thrombospondin which was incorporated into the clot. In contrast, incorporation of 125I-fibronectin into clots was dependent upon cross-linking. Most of the incorporation of 125I-thrombospondin occurred during fibrin polymerization as judged by parallel studies of the incorporation of 125I-fibrinogen. The amount of thrombospondin incorporated into a clot was directly related to thrombospondin concentration and was only weakly dependent on fibrinogen concentration. Incorporation was not saturated at thrombospondin:fibrin (mol/mol) ratios as high as 2/1. Thrombospondin, however, modified the final structure of fibrin clots in a concentration-dependent manner as monitored by opacity. When tryptic digests of 125I-thrombospondin were studied, the 270-kilodalton core became incorporated into fibrin whereas the 30-kilodalton heparin binding fragment was excluded. These results indicate that thrombospondin specifically co-polymerizes with fibrin during blood coagulation and may be an important modulator of clot structure.     

Dimeric character of fibronectin, a major cell surface-associated glycoprotein

Exposed proteins of cultured chick and human fibroblasts were labeled by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. Extracts from both cell types contained the characteristic, heavily labeled band of fibronectin (molecular weight = 2.2 × 10⁵) when analyzed after reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol. Without prior reduction, however, the 2.2×10⁵ molecular weight band was missing and replaced by labeled bands of 4.4×10⁵ and of very high molecular weight. This finding indicates that fibroblast cell-surface fibronectin, like the fibronectin purified from plasma, is composed of two high molecular weight polypeptides hed together by disulfide bonds, and suggests that the dimer may in addition form disulfide-bonded multimers.     

Isolation and characterization of the testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin from human plasma. Use of a novel affinity column.

This report concerns the purification and characterization of the testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin (TeBG) from human plasma. Cohn fraction IV was submitted sequentially to ammonium sulfate preciptation, affinity chromatography, gel filtration, and isoelectric focusing. The final product was homogeneous in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. Its activity was demonstrated by the finding of slightly more than one binding site/mole for dihydrotestosterone. Association constants (M-1) at 4 and 37degreesC were ascertained for three steroids: dihydrotestosterone; 2.4 x 10(9) and 0.99 x 10(9); testosterone, 1.1 x 10(9) and 0.35 x 10(9); estradiol, 0.60 x 10(9) and 0.22 x 10(9). TeBG is a glycoprotein having a molecular weight of 94000 and both the amino acid and carbohydrate content are presented along with other physical properties.     

Plasminogen activation and lysis of blood clots induced by cells in vitro

When human diploid fibroblasts were seeded onto the surface of blood clots, lysis of the clot occurred as a result of the release of cellular plasminogen activator. A number of aspects of this lysis were studied. 1. There was no significant difference in rates of lysis of whole blood clots, platelet-rich plasma clots, and platelet-poor plasma clots brought about by the same number of fibroblasts. 2. Clot lysis was promoted by nondividing cells and by proliferating cells. 3. Using cycloheximide to block protein synthesis it was found that the plasminogen activator released by fibroblasts had an active half-life of less than an hour. 4. When clots were washed prior to the addition of cells then lysis occurred at an increased rate. This was probably due to the removal of alpha 2-antiplasmin from the clots, since when antisera to alpha 2-antiplasmin was added to clots, lysis also proceeded at an increased rate. 5. Medium conditioned by fibroblasts did not promote clot lysis even when antiplasmin was removed by washing or by addition of antisera. 6. Cells had to be in direct contact with the clot in order to bring about lysis; when cells were separated from clots by permeable membranes there was no lysis. 7. When cross-linking of fibrin was reduced by the inhibition of transglutaminase, the rate of clot lysis was increased.     

The Non-catalytic B Subunit of Coagulation Factor XIII Accelerates Fibrin Cross-linking

Covalent cross-linking of fibrin chains is required for stable blood clot formation, which is catalyzed by coagulation factor XIII (FXIII), a proenzyme of plasma transglutaminase consisting of catalytic A (FXIII-A) and non-catalytic B subunits (FXIII-B). Herein, we demonstrate that FXIII-B accelerates fibrin cross-linking. Depletion of FXIII-B from normal plasma supplemented with a physiological level of recombinant FXIII-A resulted in delayed fibrin cross-linking, reduced incorporation of FXIII-A into fibrin clots, and impaired activation peptide cleavage by thrombin; the addition of recombinant FXIII-B restored normal fibrin cross-linking, FXIII-A incorporation into fibrin clots, and activation peptide cleavage by thrombin. Immunoprecipitation with an anti-fibrinogen antibody revealed an interaction between the FXIII heterotetramer and fibrinogen mediated by FXIII-B and not FXIII-A. FXIII-B probably binds the γ-chain of fibrinogen with its D-domain, which is near the fibrin polymerization pockets, and dissociates from fibrin during or after cross-linking between γ-chains. Thus, FXIII-B plays important roles in the formation of a ternary complex between proenzyme FXIII, prosubstrate fibrinogen, and activator thrombin. Accordingly, congenital or acquired FXIII-B deficiency may result in increased bleeding tendency through impaired fibrin stabilization due to decreased FXIII-A activation by thrombin and secondary FXIII-A deficiency arising from enhanced circulatory clearance.     

Molecular weights of estrogen and androgen binding proteins in the liver of Xenopus laevis.

[3-H]Estradiol-17beta and [3-H]dihydrotestosterone binding proteins in the cytosol fraction of liver from both male and female Xenopus laevis were characterized by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. These binding proteins, which were indistinguishable based upon their mobilities on gels of different acrylamide concentrations, migrated as single components with a molecular weight of 2.0 x 10-4. Separation of native or sodium dodecyl sulfate denatured specific estrogen-binding components on dodecyl sulfate free acrylamide gels gave similar results, i.e., a single species of molecular weight 2.0-2.5 x 10-4. The same molecular weight also was obtained when cytosol was prepared in the presence of either diisopropyl fluorophosphate or phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, protease inhibitors. Evidence that the liver components binding either [3-H]estradiol-17-beta or [3-H]dihydrotestosterone were not plasma contaminants was provided by the observation that the plasma sex-steroid binding globulin of Xenopus had a different mobility when separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Isolation and characterization of bovine factor VII.

Factor VII (proconvertin) has been purified approximately 5 x 10(5)-fold from bovine plasma with an overall yield of 30%. The isolation procedure involves barium sulfate adsorption and elution, DEAE-Sephadex batchwise adsorption and elution, benzamidine-agarose column chromatography, heparin-agarose column chromatography, and preparative polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. The final product was homogeneous when examined by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. A minimal molecular weight of 45,500 was determined by sedimentation equilibrium. The molecular weight estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis was 54,000. Factor VII is composed of a single polypeptide chain possessing an amino-terminal sequence of Ala-Asn-Gly-Phe-Leu-. The amino acid and carbohydrate compositions of factor VII are also reported.     

Multiplication-stimulating activity for chicken embryo fibroblasts from rat liver cell conditioned medium: a family of small polypeptides

A partially purified multiplication-stimulating activity for chicken embryo fibroblasts in cell culture was isolated from rat liver cell conditioned medium (see preceding paper, Dulak and Temin, 1973). It has been analyzed by isoelectric focusing and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. Multiplication-stimulating activity resided in a family of at least four polypeptides which were similar in apparent molecular size, but different in electrical charge. These polypeptides have a specific activity of about 50,000 with respect to serum. One of them has been purified on a small scale to apparent homogeneity in a sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel.     

Incorporation of vitronectin into fibrin clots. Evidence for a binding interaction between vitronectin and gamma A/gamma' fibrinogen.

Vitronectin is an abundant plasma protein that regulates coagulation, fibrinolysis, complement activation, and cell adhesion. Recently, we demonstrated that plasma vitronectin inhibits fibrinolysis by mediating the interaction of type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor with fibrin (Podor, T. J., Peterson, C. B., Lawrence, D. A., Stefansson, S., Shaughnessy, S. G., Foulon, D. M., Butcher, M., and Weitz, J. I. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 19788-19794). The current studies were undertaken to further examine the interactions between vitronectin and fibrin(ogen). Comparison of vitronectin levels in plasma with those in serum indicates that approximately 20% of plasma vitronectin is incorporated into the clot. When the time course of biotinylated-vitronectin incorporation into clots formed from (125)I-fibrinogen is monitored, vitronectin incorporation into the clot parallels that of fibrinogen in the absence or presence of activated factor XIII. Vitronectin binds specifically to fibrin matrices with an estimated K(d) of approximately 0.6 microm. Additional vitronectin subunits are assembled on fibrin-bound vitronectin multimers through self-association. Confocal microscopy of fibrin clots reveals the globular vitronectin aggregates anchored at intervals along the fibrin fibrils. This periodicity raised the possibility that vitronectin interacts with the gamma A/gamma' variant of fibrin(ogen) that represents about 10% of total fibrinogen. In support of this concept, the vitronectin which contaminates fibrinogen preparations co-purifies with the gamma A/gamma' fibrinogen fraction, and clots formed from gamma A/gamma' fibrinogen preferentially bind vitronectin. These studies reveal that vitronectin associates with fibrin during coagulation, and may thereby modulate hemostasis and inflammation.     

Ultrastructure of clots during isometric contraction

We explored the retraction or contraction of platelet-fibrin clots under isometric conditions. In the presence of micromolar calcium clots of normal platelet-rich plasma developed tension at an initial rate of 0.1 to 0.2 g/min per cm2 (initial cross-sectional area). Electron microscopy of clots fixed after attaining a force of 1.6 g/cm2 revealed platelets with elongated bodies and pseudopods in close apposition to fibrin strands which were oriented in cablelike fashion in the direction of tension. The development of tension could not be explained simply on the basis of platelet-platelet association and interaction alone. First, factor XIII-dependent cross-linking of fibrin fibers was critical to normal isometric contraction. Second, tension decreased linearly, rather than exponentially, when the platelet count in the platelet-fibrin clot was decreased, suggesting that platelets must be interacting with another component (i.e. fibrin). Thrombasthenic platelets, deficient in fibrinogen receptors, failed to develop tension or to align fibrin strands or pseudopods in the clot. Platelet-fibrin clots treated with vincristine to disassemble microtubules or cytochalasin B to disrupt microfilaments failed to develop tension and relaxed if these agents were added after tension had developed. Relaxation under these conditions, however, was not associated with loss of orientation of fibrin strands. Our findings suggest that platelet-fibrin interaction in clots under isometric conditions leads to orientation of fibrin strands and platelets in the direction of force generation. Tension develops as platelets simultaneously attach to and spread along fibrin strands, and contract. The contraction draws some fibrin into platelet-fibrin clumps and aligns other strands in the long axis of tension. The achievement and maintenance of maximum tension appears to depend on the development of platelet-fibrin attachments and extension of platelet bodies and long pseudopods containing bundles of microfilaments and microtubules along the oriented fibrin fibers.     

Influence of a natural and a synthetic inhibitor of factor XIIIa on fibrin clot rheology

We investigated the origins of greater clot rigidity associated with FXIIIa-dependent cross-linking. Fibrin clots were examined in which cross-linking was controlled through the use of two inhibitors: a highly specific active-center-directed synthetic inhibitor of FXIIIa, 1,3-dimethyl-4,5-diphenyl-2[2(oxopropyl)thio]imidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate, and a patient-derived immunoglobulin directed mainly against the thrombin-activated catalytic A subunits of thrombin-activated FXIII. Cross-linked fibrin chains were identified and quantified by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunostaining with antibodies specific for the alpha- and gamma-chains of fibrin. Gamma-dimers, gamma-multimers, alpha(n)-polymers, and alpha(p)gamma(q)-hybrids were detected. The synthetic inhibitor was highly effective in preventing the production of all cross-linked species. In contrast, the autoimmune antibody of the patient caused primarily an inhibition of alpha-chain cross-linking. Clot rigidities (storage moduli, G') were measured with a cone and plate rheometer and correlated with the distributions of the various cross-linked species found in the clots. Our findings indicate that the FXIIIa-induced dimeric cross-linking of gamma-chains by itself is not sufficient to stiffen the fibrin networks. Instead, the augmentation of clot rigidity was more strongly correlated with the formation of gamma-multimers, alpha(n)-polymers, and alpha(p)gamma(q)-hybrid cross-links. A mechanism is proposed to explain how these cross-linked species may enhance clot rigidity.     

Chemical cross-linking studies of the light-harvesting pigment-protein complex B800-850 of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata

The spatial relationship of the three polypeptides contained in the B800-850 light-harvesting complex of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata has been studied with chemical cross-linking of crude membrane preparations of the phototrophic negative mutant strain Y5. Samples were cross-linked with the cleavable reagent dithiobis (succinimidyl propionate) (1.1 nm chain length) and analyzed by two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Membranes labelled with 14C-amino acids were used to determine the compositional stoichiometry of cross-linked products. It was found that the two polypeptides with an apparent Mr of 8000 and 10 000, respectively, that are associated with the pigments bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoid form homooligomers as well as heterooligomers. The data support the idea that these polypeptides are closely arranged in clusters probably containing at least four of each species. The third subunit with an Mr of 14 000, which is not associated with pigments, was found to be most susceptible to cross-linking and formed homooligomers but no heterooligomers with the other two subunits, and is thus likely to be loosely attached to these clusters. Comparative studies with the phototrophic positive wild type strain indicated that the results found with the phototrophic negative mutant strain Y5 reflect the organization of the B800-850 complex in the membrane of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata. Studies with the isolated B800-850 complex revealed that the sterical arrangement of the three constituent polypeptides in dodecyl dimethylamine-N-oxide containing solutions must be very similar to that in the membrane.     

Catalytic properties of a calmodulin-regulated transglutaminase from human platelet and chicken gizzard

The kinetic parameters and some enzymatic characteristics of human platelet and chicken gizzard transglutaminases were determined. Activity of the transglutaminases was regulated by calmodulin. These enzymes co-isolated with alpha-actinin and were dissociated from alpha-actinin by gel filtration and absorption onto a calmodulin affinity column. Silver-stained polyacrylamide gels showed that the protein peak eluted by EGTA from this column contained polypeptides of Mr approximately 58,000 and 63,000. The transglutaminases required Ca2+ for incorporation of monodansylcadaverine into casein and actin substrates. Activity was enhanced 3-fold by calmodulin with a biphasic effect, showing stimulation at 10-200 nM and inhibition at concentrations higher than 300 nM. In the presence of 200 nM calmodulin, half-maximal transglutaminase stimulation was obtained with 2.5 microM free [Ca2+]. Chlorpromazine inhibited calmodulin enhancement of the transglutaminases. Activity of the transglutaminases was independent of proteolytic activation, since inhibitors for Ca2+-dependent proteases failed to inhibit filamin cross-linking. For comparison, factor XIIa, a plasma and platelet transglutaminase, required both Ca2+ and thrombin for activation and was insensitive to calmodulin. The cross-linking pattern of fibrin, fibrin monomers, and fibrinogen by the calmodulin-regulated transglutaminases showed, by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, disappearance of fibrinogen alpha-chains with no decrease of beta- and gamma-chains or formation of gamma-gamma dimers. By autoradiography, cross-linked products of 125I-fibrinogen revealed heavily labeled high molecular weight polymers and polypeptides of Mr 98,000, 116,000, and 148,000; the latter appeared to be a transient species. However, when fibrin, fibrin monomers, and fibrinogen were used as factor XIIIa substrates, gamma-gamma dimers and alpha-polymers were formed. Formation of gamma-gamma dimers was slower with fibrinogen than with fibrin. Iodoacetamide blocked activity of factor XIIIa but not of the calmodulin-regulated transglutaminases.     

Cross-linking of a major fibroblast surface-associated glycoprotein (fibronectin) catalyzed by blood coagulation factor XIII

The surface proteins of cultured human skin fibroblasts were iodinated and then exposed to one or more of the following blood coagulation proteins: thrombin, fibrinogen, and factor XIII (plasma protransglutaminase). Radiolabeled polypeptides were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate. After exposure to physiological concentrations of activated factor XIII (XIII_a), the band of radioactivity corresponding to the major labeled surface protein (fibronectin, molecular weight = 2.2 × 10⁵ daltons) was cross-linked to a very high molecular weight complex. The cross-linking reaction was inhibited by fibrin (which is known to bind the catalytic subunit of XIII_a). Cross-linking of labeled cell surface fibronectin to fibrin could not be demonstrated. The fibrillar pattern of surface fibronectin appeared unaffected by cross-linking when studied by immunofluorescence. Cross-linking of cell surface fibronectin by XIII_a requires highly specific enzyme-substrate and protein-protein interactions, and may be an important physiological reaction.     

Type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor binds to fibrin via vitronectin

Type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), the primary inhibitor of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), circulates as a complex with the abundant plasma glycoprotein, vitronectin. This interaction stabilizes the inhibitor in its active conformation In this report, the effects of vitronectin on the interactions of PAI-1 with fibrin clots were studied. Confocal microscopic imaging of platelet-poor plasma clots reveals that essentially all fibrin-associated PAI-1 colocalizes with fibrin-bound vitronectin. Moreover, formation of platelet-poor plasma clots in the presence of polyclonal antibodies specific for vitronectin attenuated the inhibitory effects of PAI-1 on t-PA-mediated fibrinolysis. Addition of vitronectin during clot formation markedly potentiates PAI-1-mediated inhibition of lysis of (125)I-labeled fibrin clots by t-PA. This effect is dependent on direct binding interactions of vitronectin with fibrin. There is no significant effect of fibrin-associated vitronectin on fibrinolysis in the absence of PAI-1. The binding of PAI-1 to fibrin clots formed in the absence of vitronectin was characterized by a low affinity (K(d) approximately 3.5 micrometer) and rapid loss of PAI-1 inhibitory activity over time. In contrast, a high affinity and stabilization of PAI-1 activity characterized the cooperative binding of PAI-1 to fibrin formed in the presence of vitronectin. These findings indicate that plasma PAI-1.vitronectin complexes can be localized to the surface of fibrin clots; by this localization, they may modulate fibrinolysis and clot reorganization.     

Polypeptide structure of DNA polymerase I from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

DNA polymerase I of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been purified to near homogeneity. The enzyme sediments under high salt conditions as a band at 7.4 S and two polypeptides of Mr = 140,000 and 110,000 are resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Both polypeptides react with rabbit anti-yeast DNA polymerase I serum and can be shown to be enzymatically active by renaturation in situ after electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. This high molecular weight form of yeast DNA polymerase I is very sensitive to inhibition by aphidicolin. The biochemical properties of the enzyme and inhibitors that may aid in distinguishing yeast DNA polymerases I and II are also described.     

Isolation, purification and characterization of bovine epidermal transglutaminase.

A crosslinking enzyme, epidermal transglutaminase, was isolated from soluble proteins of glabrous cow snout epidermis. This enzyme stabilized fibrin clots rendering them insoluble in 2% acetic acid. It also catalyzed the incorporation of the fluorescent amine, dansyl cadaverine, into casein. Epidermal transglutaminase was purified by chromatography upon DEAE-Sephadex A-50, zone electrophoresis in Pevikon, and Sephadex G-200 gel permeation chromatography. The highly purified substance, which had a specific activity of 3267 amine-incorporating units/mg per h and a molecular weight of 55000, behaved as a single molecular species in the analytical ultracentrifuge. It had a sedimentation coefficient of 4.4 S and migrated as a gamma-globulin at pH 8.6; it displayed anomalous migration in polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate. The enzyme was dependent upon free calcium ions and a reduced sulfhydryl group for activity. The apparent Km for dansyl cadaverine was 1.2 - 10(-4) at pH 7.5. Monospecific antiserum to bovine epidermal transglutaminase precipitated with the enzyme in agar. The antiserum prevented fibrin crosslinking but enhanced incorporation of dansyl cadaverine into casein by the enzyme. The epidermal enzyme differed biochemically and immunochemically from bovine plasma transglutaminase (Factor XIII).