2-Bromoacetamidopyridine: a new chemical probe of the active site of histidine decarboxylase from Lactobacillus 30a

In rats fasted for 24–30 hours, albumin mRNA sequences are released from membrane-bound polysomes to enter the free cytosol fraction. A significant portion of these sequences are present in albumin mRNPs, distinguished from free albumin mRNA and 40S subunit complexes by Cs₂SO₄ equilibrium density centrifugation. Refeeding a mixture of 20 amino acids restores albumin mRNA to membrane-bound polysomes, demonstrating the importance of amino acid supply in the mRNP-polysome equilibrium and in regulation of albumin synthesis.     

The hydrolysis of triphosphoinositide by a phosphodiesterase in rat kidney cortex

The hydrolysis of triphosphoinositide by a phosphodiesterase has been demonstrated in rat kidney cortex. Subcellular fractionation studies revealed that the enzyme activity was predominantly found in the supernatant fraction. After acid precipitation and ammonium sulfate fractionation, the soluble enzyme was free from triphosphoinositide phosphomonoesterase activity.Although the partially purified enzyme did not require added divalent cations for activity, it was strongly inhibited by EDTA (0.1 mm). In the absence of EDTA, added MgCl₂ or CaCl₂ depressed the enzyme activity. The enzyme preparation was specific to polyphosphoinositides; it did not attack phosphatidylinositol and other phospholipids. It hydrolyzed both diphosphoinositide and triphosphoinositide with the formation of 1,2-diglyceride and organic phosphate.     

Studies on Turbatrix aceti beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase. 1. Purification and physicochemical characterization

N-Acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was purified, from the culture medium of the nematode Turbatrix aceti, to homogeneity, as judged by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel and ultracentrifugation. The purification scheme involved the following steps: (i) concentration of the culture medium by ultra-filtration by an Amicon PM-30 membrane; (ii) ammonium sulfate precipitation; (iii) DEAE-Sephadex and (iv) Sephadex G-200 chromatography; and (v) affinity chromatography on succinyldiaminopropyl amino-Sepharose bearing the ligand p-aminophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranoside. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 112,000 +/- 4800 and 124,000 as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by gel filtration through Sephacryl S-200, respectively. The enzyme showed a pH optimum of 4.8 for N-acetylglucosaminidase and 5.4 for N-acetylgalactosaminidase. The detailed substrate specificity studies were carried out on both synthetic and natural oligosaccharides and glycopeptides. The chitin oligosaccharides and asialo-agalacto complex type as well as high mannose-type glycoproteins such as fetuin and ovalbumin, respectively, were good substrates for the enzyme. Substrate analogs in which the oxygen atom of the acetamido group was replaced by sulfur atom proved to be poor substrates.     

Multiple forms of isocitrate lyase in the matrix of Turbatrix aceti mitochondria

The localization of five separate forms of isocitrate lyase (EC 4.1.3.1) in the free-living nematode Turbatrix aceti was determined by analyzing their distribution among subcellular fractions with continuous (Tris-acetate, pH 7.5) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Enzyme activity on gels was detected either by substrate-dependent Schiff's-aldehyde staining or absorbance of phenylhydrazone at 324 nm. Following rate sedimentation of worm homogenates, the highest specific activity for isocitrate lyase was recovered in the pellet containing intact mitochondria. Glyoxysomes (microbodies) were not observed by electron microscopy in this or any other fraction. Selective removal of mitochondrial outer membranes (and hence components in the intermembrane space) was accomplished by two different procedures: (1) passage of mitochondria in a hypersomotic medium through a French pressure cell at 1500 psi, or (2) treatment with 0.6 mg digitonin mg protein. Electron microscopy revealed essentially complete removal for the former procedure, but only partial removal following digitonin treatment. Equilibrium centrifugation on sucrose gradients was necessary to strip the residual outer membranes from the digitonin-treated mitochondria. Mitoplasts resulting from the two procedures were subfractionated into matrix and inner membrane components by high-pressure disruption (14,000 psi) and subsequent rate sedimentation (144,000g, 60 min). Identical electrophoretic patterns were found using both slab and disc gels, whether stained with Schiff's reagent or scanned at 324 nm, in samples taken from clarified homogenates, intact mitochondria, mitoplasts, or matrix fractions. The results indicate that all five forms of the enzyme occur together in the mitochondrial matrices. Their individual functions are not yet known, but they may be involved in the regulation of isocitrate metabolism common to the tricarboxylic acid and glyoxylate cycles occurring within the same mitochondria.     

Immunoregulation in experimental schistosomiasis: III. Role of macrophages in soluble egg antigen-induced chronic spleen cell augmentation of baseline lymphocyte reactivity

Spleen cells from mice infected for 20 weeks with Schistosoma mansoni, exposed in vitro to soluble schistosomal egg antigens (SEA), treated with mitomycin C (Mc), and cocultured with syngeneic responder spleen cells increased the baseline proliferation of the otherwise unstimulated responder cells in cocultures. The role of macrophages in this “spontaneous” thymidine incorporation was studied directly by removal of macrophages on Sephadex G-10 columns. Removal of esterase-positive, Sephadex G-10-adherent cells (macrophages) greatly reduced the amount of SEA-induced, chronically infected spleen cell-mediated stimulation observed in cocultures. It also reduced an elevated background of spontaneous DNA synthesis seen with control cultures of spleen cells from infected animals. Depletion of T lymphocytes from chronic spleen cell populations by treatment with anti-Thy 1.2 serum and complement prior to exposure to SEA partially abrogated the augmentation effect. Comparison of these results with mitogen (concanavalin A)induced spleen cell-mediated stimulation (which is elevated, rather than reduced, by macrophage removal) and with known alterations in splenic T- and B-lymphocyte ratios in chronic murine Schistosomiasis suggests that antigen-stimulated, chronically infected splenic macrophage-de-pendent baseline augmentation may depend on specific T-lymphocyte-derived lymphokine induction. These results may reflect a general mechanism whereby animals harboring a persistent, chronic infection can respond quickly to a second or challenge infection or a flareup of the primary infection.     

The effect of age on enolase turnover in the free-living nematode, Turbatrix aceti.

The rates of synthesis and degradation of enolase and total soluble proteins slow with age in the free-living nematode, Turbatrix aceti. The half-lives are 73 and 58 h for soluble protein and enolase, respectively, in young organisms (5 days old). The respective figures are 163 and 161 h for old organisms (22–30 days old). Similar slowing of protein turnover occurs when the organisms are aged by a repeated screening procedure which avoids the use of fluorodeoxyuridine, an inhibitor of DNA synthesis normally added to aging cultures to obtain synchrony. The results support the idea that slowed protein turnover may be responsible for the formation of altered enzymes in old organisms.     

Membrane phospholipids and hormone-sensitive lipolysis in fat cells

Isolated fat cells from rats which have been made hypothyroid do not give a lipolytic response to catecholamines. A recent report has suggested that catecholamine-sensitive lipolysis may be correlated with an “unmasking” of receptors by linoleic acid rich phospholipids in the fat cell membrane. No apparent differences in phospholipid fatty acid composition could be found in membrane “ghosts” prepared from normal and hypothyroid rats.     

The expression of alpha-fetoprotein and albumin genes in rat liver during chemical carcinogenesis

The effect of the hepatocarcinogen 3′-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene on α-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin gene expression in rat liver was studied. Serum concentrations of AFP and albumin were measured. Amounts of AFP mRNA and albumin mRNA in rat livers were determined by hybridization of total cytoplasmic RNAs to their cDNAs. Dramatic increases in serum AFP concentrations coincided with increases in AFP biosynthesis and amount of AFP mRNA in livers of carcinogen-treated rats. In contrast, no or little change in albumin mRNA concentration was found in livers of rats treated with 3′-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene. Concomitantly, there was little change in liver albumin biosynthesis or serum albumin concentrations during hepatocarcinogenesis.     

NADP-linked 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase from human placenta: partial purification and characterization of the enzyme and identification of an inhibitor in placental tissue.

An NADP-linked 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase has been identified in human placental tissue and partially purified. Prostaglandins of the A and B series are good substrates for this enzyme while those of the E and F series are not. This enzymic preparation also catalyzes oxido-reductions at the 9 position of the prostaglandin molecule; these are slow compared to those occurring at the 15 position of the prostaglandins in the A and B series. Disc gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme reveals the presence of three protein bands which contain dehydrogenase activity. Boiled placental homogenates contain an inhibitor which appears to be specific for the NADP-linked 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase. The inhibitor is heat stable and has a molecular weight of 6,000 – 7,000.     

Disposition of polar and nonpolar residues on outer surfaces of transmembrane helical segments of proteins involved in proton translocation

"Helical wheel" projections of transmembrane helical segments of membrane proteins involved in proton translocation were constructed. The particular proteins studied were the uncF protein subunit of the Escherichia coli proton-ATPase, the uncE protein subunit of the E. coli proton-ATPase, and cytochrome oxidase subunit III. Clear demarcation of polar and nonpolar regions on surfaces of transmembrane helical segments was seen in the uncF protein and in uncE protein helical segment two, but not in uncE protein helical segment one. The transmembrane segment of cytochrome oxidase subunit III which includes the dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD)-reactive residue was very similar to E. coli uncE protein helical segment two. The DCCD-reactive residue in both was clearly located on a nonpolar surface.     

Purification and partial characterization of an NADH-linked delta13-15-ketoprostaglandin reductase from human placenta.

A Δ¹³-15-ketoprostaglandin reductase has been isolated from human placenta and purified 800-fold. The enzyme utilizes NADH as a cofactor but not NADPH. It reduces the 13,14 double bond in 15-ketoprostaglandin E₁, E₂ and F_2α. The K_M apparent for NADH is 54.8 μM and the K_M apparent for 15-ketoprostaglanding E₂ is 7.0 μM. The partially purified enzyme contains no 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase activity.     

Induction of synthesis of bovine adrenocortical cytochromes P-450scc, P-45011 beta, P-450C21, and adrenodoxin by prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha and cholera toxin

To further elucidate the mechanisms by which ACTH (adrenocorticotropin) exerts its long-term action to maintain normal levels of adrenocortical cytochromes P-450 and related enzymes, the abilities of cholera toxin and prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha to induce the synthesis of cytochromes P-450scc, P-45011 beta, and P-450C21 and adrenodoxin have been examined. These effectors stimulate the production of cyclic AMP and thus steroidogenesis in the adrenal cortex. Using bovine adrenocortical cells in primary monolayer culture, we have shown that treatment with cholera toxin results in increased synthesis of cytochromes P-450scc and P-45011 beta and adrenodoxin, similar to the effect observed upon ACTH treatment. Prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha are less effective at inducing the synthesis of the mitochondrial cytochromes P-450, and do not seem to induce the synthesis of adrenodoxin. Furthermore, cholera toxin was found to be less effective at inducing the synthesis of microsomal cytochrome P-450C21 than ACTH, and no more effective than the prostaglandins. Thus, while it appears that elevation of cyclic AMP levels is a necessary step leading to increased synthesis of adrenocortical forms of cytochrome P-450, the detailed mechanism of this induction will be found to be different for each of the different enzymes.     

Isolation of poly(A)-containing RNA on synthetic fluorophlogopite (Mica).

Synthetic fluorophlogopite, an aluminosilicate of the same structure as naturally occurring mineral mica in which potassium ions on the basal surface have been replaced by aluminum ions, has the ability to retain polynucleotides irreversibly. This property of Al³⁺-mica was used for irreversible adsorption of poly(U) and subsequent selective adsorption of poly(A)-containing RNA from rabbit reticulocyte polysomes at high salt concentration and its elution by 50% dimethylsulfoxide. The properties of RNA isolated on poly(U)-Al³⁺-mica were studied by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and by stimulation of globin synthesis in an in vitro protein synthesizing system from wheat germ and from Krebs II-ascites cells. The preparation contained 9s RNA species which corresponds to rabbit globin messenger RNA, and under optimal conditions it stimulated protein synthesis more than 100-fold. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate showed that synthesized product was identical with rabbit globin.     

Ascorbate deficiency results in decreased collagen production: under-hydroxylation of proline leads to increased intracellular degradation

Collagen production by cultured human lung fibroblasts was examined when the cells were made deficient in ascorbate. Cells grown in the absence of ascorbate produced 30% less collagen during a 6-h labeling period than cells incubated with as little as 1 microgram/ml ascorbate during the labeling period. Cells grown without ascorbate produced under-hydroxylated collagen which was subject to increased intracellular degradation from a basal level of 16% to an enhanced level of 49% of all newly synthesized collagen. The likely mechanism for increased intracellular degradation is the inability of under-hydroxylated collagen to assume a triple-helical conformation causing it to be susceptible to intracellular degradation. Measurement of collagen production by enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) using antibodies directed against triple-helical determinants of collagen showed that both types I and III collagens were affected. In contrast, another connective tissue component, fibronectin, was not affected. Analysis by ELISA showed a greater decrease in collagen production than did analysis by the collagenase method, suggesting that some non-helical collagen chains (detected by collagenase but not by ELISA) were secreted in the absence of ascorbate. These results provide a mechanism to account, in part, for the deficiency of collagen in connective tissues which occurs in a state of ascorbate deficiency.     

Determination of protein immobilized on solid support by tryptophan content

The method of Gaitonde and Dovey [Biochem. J.117, 907 (1970)] for the determination of tryptophan by reaction with ninhydrin in acid is adapted for the measurement of protein bound to solid support materials, including collagen. DEAE-Sephadex, DEAE-cellulose, polyacrylamide and collodion give negligible background absorbance with the reagent; collagen and activated agarose give some color, but this can be abolished by pretreating the collagen with H₂O₂. Collagen, Sephadex and agarose dissolve in the reagent. Levels of lactase (β-galactosidase) and glucoamylase were readily and linearly measured down to 0.2 mg in the presence of 21 mg collagen, and activity and immobilized protein content of lactase-collagen complexes were linearly related.     

Equilibrium isoelectric focussing in acrylamide gel slabs--reduction of cathodic drift.

A simple, economical method for counting acrylamide gel slices on solid filter paper supports in a toluene-based scintillation cocktail is described. Major advantages of the system include no requirement for either dissolution of the gel or elution of the radioactive material prior to emulsion counting and the direct reutilization of scintillation cocktail and vials. Additionally, ³²P-labeled RNA samples can be counted with better relative efficiencies and those labeled with ¹⁴C or ³³P can be determined at equivalent efficiencies. Tritium was detected less readily, with an absolute efficiency of approximately 10%.     

Stereospecific binding of 3H-phencyclidine in brain membranes

Phencyclidine (PCP) displaceable binding of ³H-PCP to glass-fiber filters was eliminated and total binding markedly reduced by initial treatment of the discs with 0.05% polyethyleneimine. Assessed with treated filters, unlabeled PCP displaced ³H-PCP in both rat and pigeon brain membranes with an EC50 of 1 μM. Of similar high inhibitory potency were dextrorphan, levorphanol, SKF 10047 and ketamine, while morphine, naloxone and etorphine had EC50 values higher then 1 mM. Using the dissociative anesthetic dexoxadrol and its inactive isomer levoxadrol as displacing agents, stereospecific binding of ³H-PCP was obtained in rat and pigeon brain membranes. The markedly higher potency of dexoxadrol, relative to levoxadrol, in displacing bound ³H-PCP is compatible with behavioral data for these enantiomers. However, they were equipotent in displacing ³H-PCP bound to glass-fiber filters in the absence of tissue. Heat denaturation, but not freezing, abolished stereospecific binding of ³H-PCP, which was also absent in rat liver membranes. The stereospecific binding component in brain displayed biphasic saturability at 60–70 nM and 300–400 nM, respectively.