Significance of interactions of low molecular weight crystallin fragments in lens aging and cataract formation

Analysis of aged and cataract lenses shows the presence of increased amounts of crystallin fragments in the high molecular weight aggregates of water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions. However, the significance of accumulation and interaction of low molecular weight crystallin fragments in aging and cataract development is not clearly understood. In this study, 23 low molecular mass (<3.5-kDa) peptides in the urea-soluble fractions of young, aged, and aged cataract human lenses were identified by mass spectroscopy. Two peptides, alphaB-(1-18) (MDIAIHHPWIRRPFFPFH) and betaA3/A1-(59-74) (SD(N)AYHIERLMSFRPIC), present in aged and cataract lens but not young lens, and a third peptide, gammaS-(167-178) (SPAVQSFRRIVE) present in all three lens groups were synthesized to study the effects of interaction of these peptides with intact alpha-, beta-, and gamma-crystallins and alcohol dehydrogenase, a protein used in aggregation studies. Interaction of alphaB-(1-18) and betaA3/A1-(59-74) peptides increased the scattering of light by beta- and gamma-crystallin and alcohol dehydrogenase. The ability of alpha-crystallin subunits to function as molecular chaperones was significantly reduced by interaction with alphaB-(1-18) and betaA3/A1-(59-74) peptides, whereas gammaS peptide had no effect on chaperone-like activity of alpha-crystallin. The betaA3/A1-(59-74 peptide caused a 5.64-fold increase in alphaB-crystallin oligomeric mass and partial precipitation. Replacing hydrophobic residues in alphaB-(1-18) and betaA3/A1-(59-74) peptides abolished their ability to induce crystallin aggregation and light scattering. Our study suggests that interaction of crystallin-derived peptides with intact crystallins could be a key event in age-related protein aggregation in lens and cataractogenesis.     

Reactive sulfhydryl groups of sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase. III. Identification of cysteine residues whose modification with N-ethylmaleimide leads to loss of the Ca2+-transporting activity

The reactive sulfhydryl group (SHD) (Kawakita et al. (1980) J. Biochem. 87, 609-617) which is essential for the decomposition of the E-P intermediate of Ca2+-transporting ATPase of the rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum has been identified. One sample of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes was reacted for 3 min with 0.4 mM N-[3H]ethylmaleimide at pH 7.0 at 30 degrees C to a labeling density of 1 mol/mol ATPase without loss of the Ca2+-transporting activity. Another sample of the membranes was treated similarly with non-radioactive N-ethylmaleimide and then labeled with 0.4 mM N-ethyl[14C]maleimide for 17 min. An extensive loss of the Ca2+-transporting activity occurred during the period of this radio-labeling, thus substantiating the 14C-labeling of SHD. The labeled membranes were digested by thermolysin, and the labeled peptides were fractionated by gel filtration and reversed-phase HPLC. Two major radioactive peptides were present in both 3H- and 14C-labeled thermolytic digests, and each of the major components of 14C-labeled peptides had a counterpart in the major components of 3H-labeled peptides which behaved identically on HPLC. The major 14C-labeled peptides were purified and found to be identical with the two SHN peptides, TL-I and TL-II (Saito-Nakatsuka et al. (1987) J. Biochem. 101, 365-376), and 0.5 mol/mol ATPase each of Cys344 and Cys364 was assigned as SHD. It seems that the Ca2+-transport system retains its activity while either of the two Cys residues is unoccupied, but loses it when both of them are modified with N-ethylmaleimide.     

Identification of distinct binding site subunits of mu and delta opioid receptors

Iodinated human beta-endorphin was affinity-cross-linked to opioid receptors present in membrane preparations from bovine frontal cortex, bovine striatum, guinea pig whole brain, and rat thalamus. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography revealed covalently labeled peptides of 65, 53, 41, and 38 kilodaltons (kDa). The 65- and 38-kDa peptides were present in all four tissues. The 41-kDa peptide was seen only in bovine caudate and guinea pig whole brain while the 53-kDa peptide was absent in rat thalamus. All four labeled peptides were constituents of opioid receptors since their labeling was fully suppressed by the presence of excess opiates, such as bremazocine, during binding. The distribution and levels of the labeled species in the brain tissues examined and, in earlier work, in the neuroblastoma X glioma NG 108-15 cell line suggested that the 65-kDa peptide is a binding component of mu receptors while the 53-kDa peptide is a binding subunit of delta receptors. This result was strongly supported by the finding that the labeling of the 65-kDa peptide is selectively reduced by the presence of the highly mu-selective ligand Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-(N-Me)Phe-Gly-ol (DAMGE) during binding, while while the labeling of the 53-kDa peptide is selectively reduced or eliminated by the highly mu-selective ligand [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE). The labeling of the 41- and 38-kDa bands was reduced by either DAMGE or DPDPE. The relationship of these lower molecular weight opioid-binding peptides to mu and delta receptors is not understood. Several possible explanations are presented.     

Identification of a highly conserved domain in the EcoRII methyltransferase which can be photolabeled with S-adenosyl-L-[methyl-3H]methionine. Evidence for UV-induced transmethylation of cysteine 186

DNA methyltransferases can be photolabeled with S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet). Specific incorporation of radioactivity has been demonstrated after photolabeling with either [methyl-3H]AdoMet or [35S]AdoMet (Som, S., and Friedman, S. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 4278-4283). The labeling is believed to occur at the AdoMet binding site. With the purpose of localizing the site responsible for [methyl-3H]AdoMet photolabeling, we cleaved the labeled EcoRII methyltransferase by chemical and enzymatic reactions and isolated the radiolabeled peptides by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and high pressure liquid chromatography. The labeled peptides were identified by amino-terminal sequencing. A common region was localized which accounted for 65-70% of the total label. This region includes a highly conserved core sequence present in all DNA (cytosine 5)-methyltransferases. One such fragment was digested further with chymotrypsin, and amino acid analysis of the resulting 3H-labeled peptide was consistent with the sequence Ala-Gly-Phe-Pro-(Cys)-Gln-Pro-Phe-Ser-Leu. However, the cysteine residue was not recovered as carboxymethylcysteine. The Pro-Cys bond was found to be protected from cleavage at cysteine residues after cyanylation. These results suggest that the cysteine residue is modified by the labeling reaction. The chymotryptic fragment was hydrolyzed enzymatically to single amino acids, and the labeled amino acid was identified as S-methylcysteine by thin layer chromatography. These results indicate that the cysteine residue is located at or close to the AdoMet binding site of EcoRII methyltransferase.     

Separation of 17 DL-amino acids and chiral sequential analysis of peptides by reversed-phase liquid chromatography after labeling with R(-)-4- (3-isothiocyanatopyrrolidin-1-yl)-7-(N, N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole

Seventeen DL-amino acids labeled with a fluorescent chiral labeling reagent, R(-)-4-(3-isothiocyanatopyrrolidin-1-yl)-7-(N, N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (R(-)-DBD-PyNCS), were separated by reversed-phase chromatography and detected fluorometrically at 550 nm (excitation at 460 nm). The reagent reacted with amino functional group in dl-amino acids under basic medium. The thiocarbamoyl derivatives were converted to thiohydantoin via thiazolinone in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution. The epimerization ratios during the reaction of the cyclization were less than 37% in all dl-amino acids tested. The resulting thiohydantoin derivatives of individual dl-amino acids were completely separated with isocratic elutions using acidic mobile phase involving 0.1% TFA. The separations of the thiohydantoins yielded from acidic, basic, neutral, hydroxyl, and aromatic amino acids were good enough for the identification of dl-amino acid. The method using the reagent was adopted to identification of dl-amino acid sequences in eight peptides. The separation and identification of the thiohydantoin derivatives liberated from the peptides labeled were performed by the isocratic elutions. The applicability of the proposed procedure to sequential analysis of peptide was demonstrated with [D-Ala(2)]-leucine enkephalin, [D-Ala(2)]-deltorphin II, d-Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-amide, and Phe-D-Met-Arg-Phe-amide. D-Ala, D-Phe, and D-Met in the peptides were positively identified with the proposed procedures. [L-Ala(2)]-leucine enkephalin, beta-lipotropin, Asp-Ser-Asp-Pro-Arg, and Pro-Asp-Val-Asp-His-Val-Phe-Leu-Arg-Phe-amide were also analyzed as the references without D-amino acid.     

Probing the nucleotide-binding site of Escherichia coli succinyl-CoA synthetase.

Succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS) catalyzes the reversible interchange of purine nucleoside diphosphate, succinyl-CoA, and Pi with purine nucleoside triphosphate, succinate, and CoA via a phosphorylated histidine (H246alpha) intermediate. Two potential nucleotide-binding sites were predicted in the beta-subunit, and have been differentiated by photoaffinity labeling with 8-N3-ATP and by site-directed mutagenesis. It was demonstrated that 8-N3-ATP is a suitable analogue for probing the nucleotide-binding site of SCS. Two tryptic peptides from the N-terminal domain of the beta-subunit were labeled with 8-N3-ATP. These corresponded to residues 107-119beta and 121-146beta, two regions lying along one side of an ATP-grasp fold. A mutant protein with changes on the opposite side of the fold (G53betaV/R54betaE) was unable to be phosphorylated using ATP or GTP, but could be phosphorylated by succinyl-CoA and Pi. A mutant protein designed to probe nucleotide specificity (P20betaQ) had a Km(app) for GTP that was more than 5 times lower than that of wild-type SCS, whereas parameters for the other substrates remained unchanged. Mutations of residues in the C-terminal domain of the beta-subunit designed to distrupt one loop of the Rossmann fold (I322betaA, and R324betaN/D326betaA) had the greatest effect on the binding of succinate and CoA. They did not disrupt the phosphorylation of SCS with nucleotides. It was concluded that the nucleotide-binding site is located in the N-terminal domain of the beta-subunit. This implies that there are two active sites approximately 35 A apart, and that the H246alpha loop moves between them during catalysis.     

A new method to specifically label thiophosphorylatable proteins with extrinsic probes. Labeling of serine-19 of the regulatory light chain of smooth muscle myosin.

We present a new method to specifically and stably label proteins by attaching extrinsic probes to amino acids that are thiophosphorylated by protein kinases and ATP gamma S. The method was demonstrated for labeling of a thiophosphorylatable serine of the isolated regulatory light chain of smooth muscle myosin. We stoichiometrically blocked the single thiol (Cys-108) either by forming a reversible intermolecular disulfide bond or by reacting with iodoacetic acid. The protein was stoichiometrically thiophosphorylated at Ser-19 by myosin light chain kinase and ATP gamma S. The nucleophilic sulfur of the protein phosphorothioate was coupled at pH 7.9 and 25 degrees C to the fluorescent haloacetate [3H]-5-[[2-[(iodoacetyl)-amino]ethyl]amino]naphthalene-1- sulfonic acid ([3H]IAEDANS) by displacement of the iodide. Typical labeling efficiencies were 70-100%. The labeling was specific for the thiophosphorylated Ser-19, as determined from the sequences of two labeled peptides isolated from a tryptic digest of the labeled protein. [3H]IAEDANS attached to the thiophosphorylated Ser-19 was stable at pH 3-10 at 25 degrees C, and to boiling in high concentrations of reductant. The labeled light chains were efficiently exchanged for unlabeled regulatory light chains of the whole myosin molecule. The resulting labeled myosin had normal ATPase activities in the absence of actin, indicating that the modification of Ser-19 and the exchange of the labeled light chain into myosin did not significantly disrupt the protein. The labeled myosin partially retained the elevated actin-activated Mg(2+)-ATPase activity which is characteristic of thiophosphorylated myosin. This indicates that labeling of the thiophosphate group with [3H]IAEDANS did not completely disrupt the functional properties of the thiophosphorylated protein in the presence of actin.     

Beta-amyloid peptides 1-40betaA and 25-35betaA suppress human amylin-mediated death of RINm5F islet beta-cells with distinct actions on fibril formation

Amyloid deposition is a common feature of Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes related to beta-amyloid peptides (betaA) and human amylin (hA), respectively. Both betaA and hA form aggregates and fibrils and kill cultured cells. To investigate whether betaA and hA display peptide-specific toxicity on cultured islet beta-cells, we examined the effects of (1-40)betaA and (25-35)betaA peptides on hA-mediated cell death and [(125)I-Tyr(37)]hA precipitation. Synthetic hA aggregated in solution and evoked both conformation- and sequence-dependent cell death. While neither (1-40)betaA nor (25-35)betaA was toxic to islet beta-cells, they suppressed hA-evoked cell death in a concentration-dependent and saturable manner. Only (1-40)betaA, but not (25-35)betaA, showed trophic effects on cultured islet beta-cells and inhibited the precipitation of [(125)I]hA caused by hA. These results suggest that (25-35)betaA does not interfere with hA-mediated fibril formation. Suppression of hA-evoked death of cultured pancreatic islet beta-cells by the betaA peptides is likely to occur through a competing interaction at these cells.     

Affinity labeling of the active site and the reactive sulfhydryl associated with activation of rat liver phenylalanine hydroxylase

A pterin analogue, 5-[(3-azido-6-nitrobenzylidene)amino]-2,6-diamino-4-pyrimidinone (ANBADP), was synthesized as a probe of the pterin binding site of phenylalanine hydroxylase. The photoaffinity label has been found to be a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme with respect to 6,7-dimethyltetrahydropterin, having a Ki of 8.8 +/- 1.1 microM. The irreversible labeling of phenylalanine hydroxylase by the photoaffinity label upon irradiation is both concentration and time dependent. Phenylalanine hydroxylase is covalently labeled with a stoichiometry of 0.87 +/- 0.08 mol of label/enzyme subunit. 5-Deaza-6-methyltetrahydropterin protects against inactivation and both 5-deaza-6-methyltetrahydropterin and 6-methyltetrahydropterin protect against covalent labeling, indicating that labeling occurs at the pterin binding site. Three tryptic peptides were isolated from [3H]ANBADP-photolabeled enzyme and sequenced. All peptides indicated the sequence Thr-Leu-Lys-Ala-Leu-Tyr-Lys (residues 192-198). The residues labeled with [3H]ANBADP were Lys198 and Lys194, with the majority of the radioactivity being associated with Lys198. The reactive sulfhydryl of phenylalanine hydroxylase associated with activation of the enzyme was also identified by labeling with the chromophoric label 5-(iodoacetamido)fluorescein [Parniak, M. A., & Kaufman, S. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 6876]. Labeling of the enzyme resulted in 1 mol of fluorescein bound per phenylalanine hydroxylase subunit and a concomitant activation of phenylalanine hydroxylase to 82% of the activity found with phenylalanine-activated enzyme. Tryptic and chymotryptic peptides were isolated from fluorescein-labeled enzyme and sequenced. The modified residue was identified as Cys236.     

The membrane topology of the amino-terminal domain of the red cell calcium pump.

A systematic study of the membrane-associated regions in the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump of erythrocytes has been performed by hydrophobic photolabeling. Purified Ca2+ pump was labeled with 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-[125I]iodophenyl)-diazirine ([125I]TID), a generic photoactivatable hydrophobic probe. These results were compared with the enzyme labeled with a strictly membrane-bound probe, [3H]bis-phosphatidylethanolamine (trifluoromethyl) phenyldiazirine. A significant light-dependent labeling of an M(r) 135,000-140,000 peptide, corresponding to the full Ca2+ pump, was observed with both probes. After proteolysis of the pump labeled with each probe and isolation of fragments by SDS-PAGE, a common pattern of labeled peptides was observed. Similarly, labeling of the Ca2+ pump with [125I]TID, either in isolated red blood cell membranes or after the enzyme was purified, yields a similar pattern of labeled peptides. Taken together, these results validate the use of either probe to study the lipid interface of the membrane-embedded region of this protein, and sustain the notion that the conformation of the pump is maintained throughout the procedures of solubilization, affinity purification, and reconstitution into proteoliposomes. In this work, we put special emphasis on a detailed analysis of the N-terminal domain of the Ca2+ pump. A labeled peptide of M(r) 40,000 belonging to this region was purified and further digested with V8 protease. The specific incorporation of [125I]TID to proteolytic fragments pertaining to the amino-terminal region indicates the existence of two transmembrane stretches in this domain. A theoretical analysis based on the amino acid sequence 1-322 predicts two segments with high probability of membrane insertion, in agreement with the experimental data. Each segment shows a periodicity pattern of hydrophobicity and variability compatible with alpha-helical structure. These results strongly suggest the existence of a transmembrane helical hairpin motif near the N-terminus of the Ca2+ pump.     

Effect of beta-amyloid on endothelial cells: lack of direct toxicity,enhancement of MTT-induced cell death and intracellular accumulation

Several cerebrovascular alterations have been described in Alzheimer's disease (AD) including an accumulation of beta-amyloid (betaA) on the vascular walls in the brain. To investigate the potential toxic activity of betaA on endothelial cells (EC), two endothelial murine cell lines derived from heart and brain were exposed to betaA1-42 and the biologically active fragment betaA25-35 in the range from 5nM to 50 microM. In a low concentration range (50 nM to 2.5 microM) both peptides significantly reduced the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2y1)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) signal in the endothelial cell lines exposed for 24h. However, microscopic examination, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release determination and Neutral Red assay did not confirm any toxic effect associated with inhibition of MTT formazan reduction. The effect on MTT was not susceptible to anti-oxidant treatment and did not increase the sensitivity to oxidative stress. However, when the EC were exposed to betaA and MTT for 1h, cell viability, determined by LDH release, was strongly reduced, while in normal conditions MTT-induced cell death only after 2h. An inhibitor of lysosomal ATPase activity, bafilomycin A1, completely antagonized this effect. The morphological examination showed that the functional activation by betaA in EC enhanced the production of MTT formazan crystals. To verify the accumulation of betaA in the lysosomal compartment we analyzed the subcellular distribution of betaA1-42 at different exposure times of EC to the peptide. The peptide was found in several organelles and was absent in the cytoplasmic compartment; co-treatment with bafilomycin A1 did not reduce the intracellular presence of betaA1-42. In our condition, the exposure of EC to betaA induced an intracellular accumulation of the peptide and a vasoactive effect that did not appear associated with direct toxic activity.     

Evidence for the extramembranous location of the putative amphipathic helix of acetylcholine receptor

Evidence has been obtained demonstrating that the peptides GVKYIAE and AIKYIAE found in the potential amphipathic helices of the alpha and beta subunits, respectively, of acetylcholine receptor are not buried in the membrane. The peptide KYIAE was synthesized, and polyclonal antibodies were prepared against a conjugate of bovine serum albumin and synthetic peptide. An immunoadsorbent capable of binding and subsequently releasing peptides ending with the sequence-YIAE was produced by attaching these specific antibodies to agarose. Native acetylcholine receptor was labeled with pyridoxal phosphate and Na[3H]BH4. The labeled protein was stripped of phospholipid and digested with the protease from Staphylococcus aureus strain V8. The digest was submitted to immunoadsorption to isolate the labeled indigenous peptides. As a control, alpha and beta polypeptides prepared by gel filtration of a solution of acetylcholine receptor in detergent were stripped of detergent and labeled with pyridoxal phosphate and Na[3H]BH4 in the presence of 8 M urea. The labeled alpha and beta polypeptides were digested and submitted to immunoadsorption. The specific radioactivities of the indigenous peptides from the alpha and beta subunits labeled under native and denaturing conditions were nearly equal. In similar experiments using isethionyl (2', 4'-dinitrophenyl)-3-amino-propionimidate as the labeling agent, the indigenous peptides from native and denatured receptor were also labeled to the same extent. Since these peptides are labeled to the same extent whether or not the protein is denatured, they cannot be buried in the membrane.     

Identification of a novel Mr = 76-kDa form of beta-adrenergic receptors

The structure of the human beta-adrenergic receptor in purified basal membranes of human placental syncytiotrophoblast was probed using photoaffinity labeling. Basal membranes display a high specific activity of receptors (4-5 pmol/mg protein) and possess both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors subtypes. Autoradiography of membranes that were incubated with the beta-adrenergic antagonist [125I]iodoazidobenzylpindolol, photolyzed and then subjected to sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, identified four radiolabeled peptides, Mr = 65-kDa, 54-kDa, 43-kDa and a novel higher molecular weight 76-kDa form of the receptor. Photoaffinity labeling of each of these four peptides displayed the pharmacological properties expected for true beta-adrenergic receptors. The 76-kDa photoaffinity labeled receptor peptide observed in human placenta basal membranes has not been reported elsewhere. Competition studies with the beta1-selective ligand CGP-20712A demonstrate that the photoaffinity labeled receptor peptides are composed of both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor subtypes.     

Identification of the Subunit Structure of Rat Pineal Adrenergic Receptors by Photoaffinity Labeling

The adrenergic receptors of rat pineal gland were investigated using radiolabeled ligand binding and photoaffinity labeling techniques. 125I-2-[beta-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylaminomethyl]tetralone (125I-HEAT) and 125I-cyanopindolol (125I-CYP) labeled specific sites on rat pineal gland membranes with equilibrium dissociation constants (KD) of 48 (+/- 5) pM and 30 (+/- 5) pM, respectively. Binding site maxima were 481 (+/- 63) and 1,020 (+/- 85) fmol/mg protein. The sites labeled by 125I-HEAT had the pharmacological characteristics of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. 125I-CYP-labeled beta-adrenergic receptors were characterized as a homogeneous population of beta 1-adrenergic receptors. The alpha 1- and beta 1-adrenergic receptors were covalently labeled with the specific photoaffinity probes 4-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-2-(4-[5-(4-azido-3-[125I]iodophenyl) pentanoyl]-1-piperazinyl) quinazoline (125I-APDQ) and 125I-p-azidobenzylcarazolol (125I-pABC). 125I-APDQ labeled an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor peptide of Mr = 74,000 (+/- 4,000), which was similar to peptides labeled in rat cerebral cortex, liver, and spleen. 125I-pABC labeled a single beta 1-adrenergic receptor peptide with a Mr = 42,000 (+/- 1,500), which differed from the 60-65,000 peptide commonly seen in mammalian tissues. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.     

Analysis of the membrane-interacting domains of myelin basic protein by hydrophobic photolabeling

Myelin basic protein is a water soluble membrane protein which interacts with acidic lipids through some type of hydrophobic interaction in addition to electrostatic interactions. Here we show that it can be labeled from within the lipid bilayer when bound to acidic lipids with the hydrophobic photolabel 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-[125I]iodophenyl)diazirine (TID) and by two lipid photolabels. The latter included one with the reactive group near the apolar/polar interface and one with the reactive group linked to an acyl chain to position it deeper in the bilayer. The regions of the protein which interact hydrophobically with lipid to the greatest extent were determined by cleaving the TID-labeled myelin basic protein (MBP) with cathepsin D into peptides 1-43, 44-89, and 90-170. All three peptides from lipid-bound protein were labeled much more than peptides from the protein labeled in solution. However, the peptide labeling pattern was similar for both environments. The two peptides in the N-terminal half were labeled similarly and about twice as much as the C-terminal peptide indicating that the N-terminal half interacts hydrophobically with lipid more than the C-terminal half. MBP can be modified post-translationally in vivo, including by deamidation, which may alter its interactions with lipid. However, deamidation had no effect on the TID labeling of MBP or on the labeling pattern of the cathepsin D peptides. The site of deamidation has been reported to be in the C-terminal half, and its lack of effect on hydrophobic interactions of MBP with lipid are consistent with the conclusion that the N-terminal half interacts hydrophobically more than the C-terminal half. Since other studies of the interaction of isolated N-terminal and C-terminal peptides with lipid also indicate that the N-terminal half interacts hydrophobically with lipid more than the C-terminal half, these results from photolabeling of the intact protein suggest that the N-terminal half of the intact protein interacts with lipid in a similar way as the isolated peptide. The similar behavior of the intact protein to that of its isolated peptides suggests that when the purified protein binds to acidic lipids, it is in a conformation which allows both halves of the protein to interact independently with the lipid bilayer. That is, it does not form a hydrophobic domain made up from different parts of the protein.     

Molecular characteristics of receptors for atrial natriuretic factor

Specific, high-affinity receptors for atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) have been identified on membranes from a variety of tissues and cultured cells. By affinity labeling procedures, radioactivity from 125I-labeled ANF was specifically incorporated into three different polypeptides of ca. 120,000, 70,000, and 60,000 daltons, which may represent the binding subunits of ANF receptors. These polypeptides were present in varying amounts in different target tissues. In rat adrenal membranes, the 120,000- and 70,000-dalton peptides were specifically labeled whereas in A10 rat smooth muscle cells, only the 60,000-dalton peptide was labeled. Membranes from rat kidney and rabbit aorta contain all three peptides. Gel filtration chromatography of solubilized receptors suggested that intact ANF receptors are large molecular complexes with apparent molecular masses in the range of 250,000-350,000 daltons. The differential labeling pattern observed with the various tissues suggested that there might be at least two different receptors composed of unique ANF-binding polypeptides.     

Interaction between beta-amyloid and lens alphaB-crystallin

In Alzheimer's disease, beta-amyloid peptides (betaA(1-40) and betaA(1-42)) are deposited on the brain cell surfaces as neurotoxic plaques. Some reports indicate that small heat shock proteins, Hsp27 and alphaB-crystallin, colocalize in the plaques, but their functions are not known. Interaction between betaA and alphaB-crystallin must be determined in order to understand the role of alphaB-crystallin in betaA fibril formation. We used a pyrene (Pyr)-labeled betaA(1-40) in a fluorescence energy transfer experiment. Upon incubation together at 37 degrees C, energy transfer between Trp of alphaB-crystallin and Pyr of Pyr-labeled betaA was observed, indicating that betaA participated in subunit exchange of alphaB-crystallin, which promoted fibril formation.     

Localization of the strychnine binding site on the 48-kilodalton subunit of the glycine receptor

Amino acid residues that participate in antagonist binding to the strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor (GlyR) have been identified by selectively modifying functional groups with chemical reagents. Moreover, a region directly involved with strychnine binding has been localized in the 48-kDa subunit of this receptor by covalent labeling and proteolytic mapping. Modification of tyrosyl or arginyl residues promotes a marked decrease of specific [3H]strychnine binding either to rat spinal cord plasma membranes or to the purified GlyR incorporated into phospholipid vesicles. Occupancy of the receptor by strychnine, but not by glycine, completely protects from the inhibition caused by chemical reagents. Furthermore, these tyrosine- or arginine-specific reagents decrease the number of binding sites (Bmax) for [3H]strychnine binding without affecting the affinity for the ligand (Kd). These observations strongly suggest that such residues are present at, or very close to, the antagonist binding site. In order to localize the strychnine binding domain within the GlyR, purified and reconstituted receptor preparations were photoaffinity labeled with [3H]strychnine. The radiolabeled 48-kDa subunit was then digested with specific chemical proteolytic reagents, and the peptides containing the covalently bound radioligand were identified by fluorography after gel electrophoresis. N-Chlorosuccinimide treatment of [3H]strychnine-labeled 48K polypeptide yielded a single labeled peptide of Mr approximately 7300, and cyanogen bromide gave a labeled peptide of Mr 6200.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

ADP-ribosylation of microtubule proteins as catalyzed by cholera toxin

Incubation of purified rat brain tubulin with cholera toxin and radiolabeled [32P] or [8-3H]NAD results in the labeling of both alpha and beta subunits as revealed on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Treatment of these protein bands with snake venom phosphodiesterase resulted in quantitative release of labeled 5'-AMP, respectively labeled with the corresponding isotope. Two-dimensional separation by isoelectric focusing and SDS-PAGE of labeled and native tubulin revealed that labeling occurs at least in four different isotubulins. The isoelectric point of the labeled isotubulins was slightly lower than that of native purified tubulin. This shift in mobility is probably due to additional negative charges involved with the incorporation of ADP-ribosyl residues into the tubulin subunits. SDS-PAGE of peptides derived from [32P]ADP-ribosylated alpha and beta tubulin subunits by Staphylococcus aureus protease cleavage showed a peptide pattern identical with that of native tubulin. Microtubule-associated proteins (MAP1 and MAP2) of high molecular weight were also shown to undergo ADP-ribosylation. Incubation of permeated rat neuroblastoma cells in the presence of [32P]NAD and cholera toxin results in the labeling of only a few cell proteins of which tubulin is one of the major substrates.     

Redox processes of methionine relevant to beta-amyloid oxidation and Alzheimer's disease.

This minireview gives an overview over the oxidation mechanisms of methionine (Met) relevant for analogous processes which may lead to the oxidation of beta-amyloid (betaA) peptides. The Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidation of a C-terminal Met(35) residue in betaA peptides may be a key to the known propensities of these peptides to form H2O2 and free radicals. Though the reduction potentials of Cu(II) and Met would seem unfavorable, there are several structural features of betaA, which may promote a one-electron oxidation of Met. The potentially close association of the Met sulfur with the C=O group C-terminal of Ile(31) in the C-terminus of betaA may support the formation of an S-O bonded radical cation intermediate. Evidence for such S-O bond formation has recently been obtained for a model, N-acetylmethionine amide. Additional support for a potential catalytic role of an oxygen-containing functional group comes from numerous studies with organic model sulfides.