Intranuclear distribution of rat liver ribosomal RNA]

A method is described for the isolation of pure liver nuclei with minimal cytoplasmic contaminants, loss of nuclear RNA and degradation of nuclear RNA. The RNA components are extracted in three distinct fractions by subsequent treatment with phenol at 4 degrees, 50 degrees and 85 degrees C. The total and 14C-orotate labelled RNA components in the three nuclear RNA fractions are characterized by nucleotide composition, poly(A)-RNA content and agar-gel electrophoresis. The results show that the RNA in three fractions correspond to the nucleosol, nucleolus and chromatin compartments of the nucleus. The nuclear HnRNA components are exclusively in the 85 degrees C RNA. Nuclear ribosomal RNA is extracted in the 4 degrees C and 50 degrees C RNA fractions. These two nuclear RNA fractions are distinct in constituent pre-rRNA species and the rate of labelling of their rRNA components. The amount of the pre-rRNA and rRNA species is determined. The results show that the nucleolus-nucleosol and nucleosol-cytoplasm transitions of ribosomal subparticles are markedly slower processes than the preceeding steps of ribosome biogenesis.     

Thermolability of 28S ribosomal ribonucleic acid from the liver of Crotalus durissus terrificus (Ophidia, Reptilia)

Instability of 28S rRNA of Crotalus durissus terrificus liver was observed during hotphenol extraction: purified 28S rRNA is converted into an 18S RNA component by heat treatment. It was also found that ;6S' and ;8S' low-molecular-weight RNA species were released during the thermal conversion. This conversion and the release of the low-molecular-weight species were also induced by 8m-urea and 80% (v/v) dimethyl sulphoxide at 0 degrees C. Evidence is presented that this phenomenon is an irreversible process and results from the rupture of hydrogen bonds. The 18S RNA product was shown to be homogeneous by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. The base composition of the 18S RNA products obtained by heat, urea or dimethyl sulphoxide treatments was similar. The C+G content of the 18S RNA product was different from that of the native 18S rRNA, but similar to that of 28S rRNA.     

Agar gel chromatography of rat liver ribosomal ribonucleic acids.

Ribosomal RNA (28s rRNA) of rat liver is selectively retained in 2 or 4% squashed agar gels equilibrated at 24–25°C with a sodium dodecyl sulfate-Tris-EDTA buffer containing 0.7 m NaCl. The absorbed polynucleotide could be recovered by elution with 0.1 m NaCl in the same buffer. Agar-gel electrophoresis and nucleotide composition indicate that the separation is close to quantitative. Column beds of 100–200 ml were used in the range of 3–6 mg of RNA. The procedure is simple, rapid and reproducible and gives excellent separation of 28 and 18s rat liver rRNA.     

Quantitative analysis of rat liver nucleolar and nucleoplasmic ribosomal ribonucleic acids.

rRNA from detergent-purified nuclei was fractionated quantitatively, by two independent methods, into nucleolar and nucleoplasmic RNA fractions. The two RNA fractions were analysed by urea/agar-gel electrophoresis and the amount of pre-rRNA (precursor of rRNA) and rRNA components was determined. The rRNA constitutes 35% of total nuclear RNA, of which two-thirds are in nucleolar RNA and one-third in nucleoplasmic RNA. The identified pre-rRNA components (45 S, 41 S, 39 S, 36 S, 32 S and 21 S) are confined to the nucleolus and constitute about 70% of its rRNA. The remaining 30% are represented by 28 S and 18 S rRNA, in a molar ratio of 1.4. The bulk of rRNA in nucleoplasmic RNA is represented by 28 S and 18 S rRNA in a molar ratio close to 1.0. Part of the mature rRNA species in nucleoplasmic RNA originate from ribosomes attached to the outer nuclear membrane, which resist detergent treatment. The absolute amount of nuclear pre-rRNA and rRNA components was evaluated. The amount of 32 S and 21 S pre-rRNA (2.9 x 10(4) and 2.5 x 10(4) molecules per nucleus respectively) is 2-3-fold higher than that of 45 S, 41 S and 36 S pre-rRNA.     

Purification and some properties of cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase from sheep liver

1. A procedure for the purification of the cytoplasmic isoenzyme of aspartate aminotransferase from sheep liver is described. 2. The purified isoenzyme shows a single component in the ultracentrifuge at pH7.6 and forms a single protein band on agar-gel electrophoresis at pH6.3 or 8.6, as well as when stained for protein or activity after polyacrylamide-gel or cellulose acetate electrophoresis at pH8.8. 3. Immunoelectrophoresis on agar gel yields only one precipitin arc associated with the protein band, with rabbit antiserum to the purified isoenzyme. By immunodiffusion, cross-reaction was detected between the cytoplasmic isoenzymes from sheep liver and pig heart, but not between the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial sheep liver isoenzymes. 4. The s(20,w) of the enzyme is 5.69S and the molecular weight determined by sedimentation equilibrium is 88900; 19313 molecules of oxaloacetate were formed/min per molecule of enzyme at pH7.4 and 25 degrees C. 5. The amino acid composition of the isoenzyme is presented. It has about 790 residues per molecule. 6. The holoenzyme has a maximum of absorption at 362nm at pH7.6 and 25 degrees C. 7. A value of 2.1 was found for the coenzyme/enzyme molar ratio. 8. The purified enzyme revealed two bands of activity on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis at pH7.4 and an extra, faster, band in some circumstances. These bands occurred even when dithiothreitol was present throughout the isolation procedure. 9. Three main bands were obtained by electrofocusing on polyacrylamide plates with pI values 5.75, 5.56 and 5.35. 10. Structural similarities with cytoplasmic isoenzymes from other organs are discussed.     

Intranuclear maturation pathways of rat liver ribosomal ribonucleic acids.

The maturation of pre-rRNA (precursor to rRNA)in liver nuclei is studied by agar/ureagel electrophoresis, kinetics of labelling in vivo with [14C] orotate and electron-microscopic observation of secondary structure of RNA molecules. (1) Processing starts from primary pre-rRNA molecules with average mol. wt. 4.6X10(6)(45S) containing the segments of both 28S and 18S rRNA. These molecules form a heterogeneous peak on electrophoresis. The 28S rRNA segment is homogeneous in its secondary structure. However, the large transcribed spacer segment (presumably at the 5'-end) is heterogeneous in size and secondary structure. A minor early labelled RNA component with mol.wt. about 5.8X10(6) is reproducibly found, but its role as a pre-rRNA species remains to be determined. (2) The following intermediate pre-rRNA species are identified: 3.25X10(6) mol.wt.(41S), a precursor common to both mature rRNA species ; 2.60X10(6)(36S) and 2.15X10(6)(32S) precursors to 28S rRNA; 1.05X10(6) (21S) precursor to 18S rRNA. The pre-rRNA molecules in rat liver are identical in size and secondary structure with those observed in other mammalian cells. These results suggest that the endonuclease-cleavage sites along the pre-rRNA chain are identical in all mammalian cells. (3) Labelling kinetics and the simultaneous existence of both 36S and 21S pre-rRNA reveal that processing of primary pre-rRNA in adult rat liver occurs simultaneously by at least two major pathways: (i) 45S leads to 41S leads to 32S+21S leads to 28S+18S rRNA and (ii) 45S leads to 41S leads to 36S+18S leads to 32S leads to 28S rRNA. The two pathways differ by the temporal sequence of endonuclease attack along the 41 S pre-rRNA chain. A minor fraction (mol.wt.2.9X10(6), 39S) is identified as most likely originating by a direct split of 28S rRNA from 45S pre-rRNA. These results show that in liver considerable flexibility exists in the order of cleavage of pre-rRNA molecules during processing.     

Glial fibrillary acidic protein from bovine and rat brain. Degradation in tissues and homogenates.

Compared with human material glial fibrillary acidic protein isolated from bovine, rat and mouse brain was remarkably homogeneous and migrated as a single band at 54 000 mol. wt. on sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. The protein was extremely susceptible to proteolysis and lower molecular weight components were invariably isolated together with the major species when the brain was not rapidly frozen. Further degradation of the 54 000 mol wt. polypeptide in bovine tissues incubated at 24 degrees C resulted in preparations essentially identical to those previously isolated from human autopsy material and separating into a series of immunologically active polypeptides ranging in molecular weight from 54 000 to approximately 40 500. The gel band pattern obtained after progressively longer periods of autolysis suggested that small fragments were cleaved from the original polypeptide in successive steps of degradation. As in human brain, the lower molecular weight products in the 45 000-40 500 range were more resistant to proteolysis and still present after prolonged periods of tissue autolysis. The effect of the pH and of proteinase inhibitors on degradation was studied in homogenates of bovine brain stem incubated at 37 degrees C. At pH 8.0 PROTEOLYSIS OF The glial fibrillary acidic protein followed essentially the same pattern as in tissue. Cleavage of the major species was not prevented by the addition of proteinase inhibitors. At pH 6.0 and 6.5 a different type of degradation was observed, with rapid breakdown of the protein and loss of immunological activity. Increased solubility in buffer solutions was another effect of autolysis. Compared with cerebral cortex and brain stem, where most of the protein was water soluble, only a small fraction was extracted with buffer from bovine white matter. However, the solubility markedly increased following incubation and comparable amounts were extracted in buffer and in 6 M urea.     

Turnover of ribosomal 28S and 18S rRNA during rat liver regeneration

The turnover of 28S and 18S rRNA was studied in the course of 12 d after partial hepatectomy, including the proliferative (1st to 5th d) and post-proliferative (6th to 12th d) phases of liver regeneration. Turnover data, as the day-to-day rates of synthesis and degradation of 28S and 18S rRNA, were obtained by employing a suitable experimental procedure for the estimation of the increase of the amount of rRNA in the regenerating liver. It was found that 28S and 18S rRNA are accumulated into the cytoplasm and degraded at identical rates both in the proliferative and post proliferative phases. The turnover of both rRNA moieties is markedly slower during the first 3 d of liver regeneration.     

FRACTIONATION OF THE RNA COMPONENTS OF RAT BRAIN POLYSOMES

Abstract— The incorporation in vivo of [³H]uridine into the RNA isolated from the free polyribosomes of rat cerebral cortex was studied. Sedimentation in sucrose gradients showed that initially (at times less than 60 min after injection of precursor) the label was associated with a heterodisperse species, while at longer times there was an increased coincidence of label with stable rRNA. Further fractionation was accomplished by means of differential extraction with phenol and analysis on polyacrylamide-agarose gels. Most of the rapidly labelled RNA was concentrated in a fraction obtained at pH 8-3 and 40°C. The base composition of this fraction differed greatly from that of rRNA, preribosomal RNA and DNA. Analysis by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide-agarose gels showed it to be composed of several distinct species in addition to residual 18 and 28S rRNA. Most of the latter was concentrated in a fraction extracted at pH 60 at 0°C.     

Degradation of 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA in the cytoplasm of rat liver cells after inhibition of protein synthesis

Inhibition of protein synthesis (up to 95%) in starved rat liver cells after a single injection of a sublethal dose of cycloheximide (0.3 mg per 100 g of body weight) results in degradation of 18S rRNA during the first 3 hours, whereas the 28S rRNA remains unaffected. However, the increase of 28S rRNA degradation products was observed by the 6th and 12th hours. The rapid decay of 18S rRNA is due to the degradation of this RNA in 40S ribosomal subunits. In contrast to 28S rRNA the specific radioactivity of 18S rRNA is increased by the 6th hour. Presumably the synthesis and processing of 18S rRNA impaired during the 1st hour are recovered partially or completely by this time. A molecular mechanism underlying 18S rRNA degradation in 40S ribosomal subunits is proposed.     

Maturation pathway for Novikoff ascites hepatoma 5.8 S ribosomal ribonucleic acid. Evidence for its presence in 32 S nuclear ribonucleic acid.

Evidence that 32 S nRNA contains 5.8 S rRNA was provided by studies on specific oligonucleotide sequences of these RNA species. Purified 32P-labeled 5.8 and 28 S rRNA and 32 S RNA were digested with T-1 ribonuclease, and the products were fractionated according to chain length by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 at neutral pH. The oligonucleotides in Peak 8 were treated with alkaline phosphatase and the products were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis on cellulose acetate at pH 3.5 and DEAE-paper in 7% formic acid. Seven unique oligonucleotide markers for 5.8 S rRNA including the methylated octanucleotide A-A-U-U-Gm-G-A-Gp were present in 32 S RNA but were not found in 28 S rRNA, indicating that 5.8 S rRNA is directly derived from the 32 S nucleolar precursor. These studies confirm a maturation pathway for rRNA species in which 32 S nucleolar RNA is a precursor of 5.8 S rRNA as well as 28 S rRNA.     

Comparison of mammalian mitochondrial ribosomal ribonucleic acid from different species

Mitochondrial ribosomal RNA species from mouse L cells, rat liver, rat hepatoma, hamster BHK-21 cells and human KB cells were examined by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide-agarose gels and sedimentation in sucrose density gradients. The S(E) (electrophoretic mobility) and S values of mitochondrial rRNA of all species were highly dependent on temperature and ionic strength of the medium; the S(E) values increased and the S values decreased with an increase in temperature at a low ionic strength. At an ionic strength of 0.3 at 23-25 degrees C or an ionic strength of 0.01 at 3-4 degrees C the S and S(E) values were almost the same being about 16.2-18.0 and 12.3-13.6 for human and mouse mitochondrial rRNA. The molecular weights under these conditions were calculated to be 3.8x10(5)-4.3x10(5) and 5.9x10(5)-6.8x10(5), depending on the technique used. At 25 degrees C in buffers of low ionic strength mouse mitochondrial rRNA species had a lower electrophoretic mobility than those of human and hamster. Under these conditions the smaller mitochondrial rRNA species of hamster had a lower electrophoretic mobility than that of human but the larger component had an identical mobility. Mouse and rat mitochondrial rRNA species had identical electrophoretic mobilities. Complex differences between human and mouse mitochondrial rRNA species were observed on sedimentation in sucrose density gradients under various conditions of temperature and ionic strength. Mouse L-cell mitochondrial rRNA was eluted after cytoplasmic rRNA on a column of methylated albumin-kieselguhr.     

Hysteresis on heating and cooling of E. coli alkaline phosphatase

Measurements of [theta](222) of E. coli phosphatase on heating from 20 degrees to 90 degrees and subsequent cooling to 20 degrees shows a gradual increase in [theta](222) on heating, while cooling shows a symmetric transition centered at 45 degrees . Reheating and cooling shows the same phenomenon. Enzyme heated and cooled once is fully active. The activity of the enzyme depends on its storage conditions (buffer and pH for example), but such changes are least to some extent reversible, especially by heating in different solvents. We conclude the enzyme exists in several forms which are in slow equilibrium with each other, so that the enzyme responds slowly when heated and hence is not at equilibrium during heating/cooling experiments.     

Heating of an ovalbumin solution at neutral pH and high temperature

The thermal denaturation, aggregation, and degradation of hen egg white ovalbumin dissolved in distilled and deionized water (60 mg/ml, pH 7.5) was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), and viscosity measurement. Two independent endothermic peaks were observed up to 180 degrees C by the DSC analysis. The first peak appeared at around 80 degrees C, corresponding to the denaturation temperature of ovalbumin. The second peak occurred around 140 degrees C due to the degradation of protein molecules as judged from the analysis by SDS-PAGE. The viscosity of the ovalbumin solution increased dramatically above 88 degrees C and maintained almost the same value up until heating to 140 degrees C. The increase in viscosity after heating to 88 degrees C was due to the denaturation and subsequent aggregation of ovalbumin molecules as observed by SDS-PAGE. The decrease in viscosity of the samples heated above 150 degrees C appears to have been the result of degradation of the ovalbumin molecules.     

Bacterial diversity of a cyanobacterial mat degrading petroleum compounds at elevated salinities and temperatures

Cyanobacterial mats of the Arabian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia experience extreme conditions of temperature and salinity. Because they are exposed to continuous oil pollution, they form ideal models for biodegradation under extreme conditions. We investigated the bacterial diversity of these mats using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rRNA cloning, and tested their potential to degrade petroleum compounds at various salinities (fresh water to 16%) and temperatures (5 to 50 degrees C). Cloning revealed that c. 15% of the obtained sequences were related to unknown, possibly novel bacteria. Bacteria belonging to Beta-, Gamma- and Deltaproteobacteria, Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides group and Spirochetes, were detected. The biodegradation of petroleum compounds at different salinities by mat microorganisms showed that pristine and n-octadecane were optimally degraded at salinities between 5 and 12% (weight per volume NaCl) whereas the optimum degradation of phenanthrene and dibenzothiophene was at 3.5% salinity. The latter compounds were also degradable at 8% salinity. The same compounds were degraded at temperatures between 15 and 40 degrees C but not at 5 and 50 degrees C. The optimum temperature of degradation was 28-40 degrees C for both aliphatics and aromatics. We conclude that the studied microbial mats from Saudi Arabia are rich in novel halotolerant and thermotolerant microorganisms with the potential to degrade petroleum compounds at elevated salinities and temperatures.     

一种高效经济的高质量植物RNA提取方法

建立了一种高效经济的植物RNA提取方法.在提取缓冲液中加入蔗糖、氯化钾和镁离子以提供对RNA分子的保护.破碎后的细胞于提取缓冲液中裂解后,用酚/氯仿变性并去除内源RNA酶和其他蛋白质,而后用pH 5.6 的NaAc沉淀RNA.用该方法提取RNA的得率较高,经电泳检测,RNA的完整性很好.RNA印迹分析和RT-PCR也都得到很好的结果.该方法还使实验成本大大降低.     

The role of epsilon-amino groups of lysine of human serum albumin in heat-induced protein denaturation. Increased stability of glycosylated and alkylated albumin in aggregation during heating

Human serum albumin was glycosidated by prolonged protein incubation in phosphate buffer, pH 6.8-7.0, with excess glucose at 37 degrees C. epsilon-amino groups of lysine residues of the albumin molecule were alkylated by pyridoxal-5-phosphate in the presence of NaBH4. The solutions of glycosidated and alkylated serum albumin were incubated at different temperature values in the range of 20 to 80 degrees C in phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, over 30 min. The nondenatured monomer and the resulting aggregated were isolated by TSK-HW-55-gel column chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The stability of modified proteins elevated in parallel to the increase in the number of the ligand molecules covalently bound to albumin amino groups. The 1-3% aqueous solutions of glycosidated serum albumin containing 3-4 glucose residues and those of alkylated albumin containing 6-7 residues of pyridoxal-5-phosphate were stable on heating up to 80 degrees C and did not form aggregates. Under these conditions the initial serum albumin completely aggregated. Preincubation of the aggregated albumin with glucose at 37 degrees C resulted in protein "renaturation" to the monomeric form with a small number of dimers and trimers.     

Effect of beef broth protein on the thermal inactivation of staphylococcal enterotoxin B1.

Enterotoxin B produced by Staphylococus aureus 243 in brain heart infusion broth was concentrated by dialysis against 40% polyethylene glycol (20 M), partially purified on a Sephadex G-100 column and heated at 110 degrees C in thermal death time cans. Various heating menstrua included 0.04 M Veronal buffer (pH 7.4), beef broth, and fractions of beef broth obtained by ultrafiltration or precipitation with ammonium sulfate. The toxin was assayed serologically using the microslide gel double-diffusion method. The time requiring for 90% inactivation at 110 degrees C (D110 value) obtained in buffer and in beef broth was 18 and 60 min, respectively. When the concentration of beef broth was increased fivefold, the D110 increased to 78 min. The apparent protective effect or protein was further investigated using beef broth protein obtained by precipitation with (NH4)2SO4. The D110 values were 51 and 70 min when the protein concentration in the heating menstruum was 3.8 and 7.7 mg/ml, respectively. However, when the beef broth protein was dialyzed against buffer before use as a heating menstrum, the D110 was only 39 or 41 min at comparable protein concentrations. Results indicated a dialyzable factor, whose protective effect was partially destroyed by trypsin and chymotrypsin but did not by disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, was involved in the protection of enterotoxin B during heating.