Effects of polyamines and analogs on staphylococcal nuclease.

The promoting activity of polyamine analogs (IV approximately XV) on staphylococcal nuclease with DNA as the substrate was compared with that of natural polyamines (I APPROXIMATELY III): I. NH2(CH2)3NH(CH2)4NH(CH2)3NH2(spermine); II. NH2(CH2)3NH(CH2)3NH(CH2)3NH2(thermine); III. NH2(CH2)4NH2 (putrescine); IV. CN(CH2)2NH(CH2)4NH(CH2)2CN; V. HOOC(CH2)2NH(CH2)4NH(CH2)2COOH; VI. C2H5OOC(CH2)2NH(CH2)4NH(CH2)2COOC2H5; VII. HO(CH2)3NH(CH2)4HH(CH2)3OH; VIII. CH3COHH(CH2)3NH(CH2)4NH(CH2)3NHCOCH3; IX. C2H5NH(CH2)3NH(CH2)4NH(CH2)3NHC2H5; X. NH2(CH2)3S(CH2)4S(CH2)3NH2; XI. NH2(CH2)3NH(CH2)2O(CH2)2NH(CH2)3NH2; XII. NH2(CH2)3NCH3(CH2)4HCH3(CH2)3NH2; XIII. CN(CH2)2NCH3(CH2)4NCH3(CH2)2CN; XIV. (CH3)2N(CH2)3NCH3(CH2)4NCH3(CH2)3N(CH3)2; XV. NH2(CH2)2O(CH2)2NH2 Replacement of the terminal groups by CN, COOH, COOEt, NHAc, NHEt, or N(CH3)2 remarkably decreased the activity. The compound VII with terminal hydroxyl groups had a lower promoting activity at low concentrations, but revealed higher activity at higher concentrations and, in contrast to spermine, no inhibition at all even at very high concentrations. Replacement of both internal amino groups by sulfur or NCH3 decreased the activity. The introduction of an ether bond into the internal methylene groups (compound XI) highly decreased the activity. Based upon these findings the possible relationship between structure and activity is discussed.     

Role of monochloramine in the oxidation of erythrocyte hemoglobin by stimulated neutrophils

Stimulation of the oxygen (O2) metabolism of isolated human neutrophilic leukocytes resulted in oxidation of hemoglobin of autologous erythrocytes without erythrocyte lysis. Hb oxidation could be accounted for by reduction of O2 to superoxide (O-2) by the neutrophils, dismutation of O-2 to yield hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), myeloperoxidase-catalyzed oxidation of chloride (Cl-) by H2O2 to yield hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the reaction of HOCl with endogenous ammonia (NH+4) to yield monochloramine ( NH2Cl ), and the oxidative attack of NH2Cl on erythrocytes. NH2Cl was detected when HOCl reacted with the NH+4 and other substances released into the medium by neutrophils. The amount of NH+4 released was sufficient to form the amount of NH2Cl required for the observed Hb oxidation. Oxidation was increased by adding myeloperoxidase or NH+4 to increase NH2Cl formation. Due to the volatility of NH2Cl , Hb was oxidized when neutrophils and erythrocytes were incubated separately in a closed container. Oxidation was decreased by adding catalase to eliminate H2O2, dithiothreitol to reduce HOCl and NH2Cl , or taurine to react with HOCl or NH2Cl to yield taurine monochloramine . NH2Cl was up to 50 times more effective than H2O2, HOCl, or taurine monochloramine as an oxidant for erythrocyte Hb, whereas HOCl was up to 10 times more effective than NH2Cl as a lytic agent. NH2Cl contributes to oxidation of erythrocyte components by stimulated neutrophils and may contribute to other forms of neutrophil oxidative cytotoxicity.     

Kinetic characteristics of glutamine synthetase from the chloroplasts of pea leaves

The kinetic properties of glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2) isolated from pea chloroplasts and purified according to the previously developed procedure have been investigated. The pH optimum for the enzymatic reaction in the presence of Mg2+ and Mn2+ are 7.5-7.6 and 5.5, respectively. The corresponding values of the activation energy per enzyme monomer (Mr = 60 000) are equal to 2900 and 1190 cal/mole. With Mg2+ the values of Km(app.) for NH4+, NH2OH, L-glutamate (+NH4+), L-glutamate (+NH2OH), ATP(+NH4+ and NH2OH) and Mg-ATP (+NH4+ and NH2OH) are 0.64, 17.5, 5.6, 7.0, 1.3 and 0.74 mM, respectively.     

Unusual low reactivity of the water oxidase in redox state S3 toward exogenous reductants. Analysis of the NH2OH- and NH2NH2-induced modifications of flash-induced oxygen evolution in isolated spinach thylakoids

The effect of redox-active amines NH2R (R = OH or NH2) on the period-four oscillation pattern of oxygen evolution has been analyzed in isolated spinach thylakoids as a function of the redox state Si (i = 0, ..., 3) of the water oxidase. The following results were obtained: (a) In dark-adapted samples with a highly populated S1 state, NH2R leads via a dark reaction sequence to the formal redox state "S-1"; (b) the reaction mechanism is different between the NH2R species; NH2OH acts as a one-electron donor, whereas NH2NH2 mainly functions as a two-electron donor, regardless of the interacting redox state Si (i = 0, ..., 3). For NH2NH2, the modified oxygen oscillation patterns strictly depend upon the initial ratio [S0(0)]/[S1(0)] before the addition of the reductant; while due to kinetic reasons, for NH2OH this dependence largely disappears after a short transient period. (c) The existence of the recently postulated formal redox state "S-2" is confirmed not only in the presence of NH2NH2 [Renger, G., Messinger, J., & Hanssum, B. (1990) in Current Research in Photosynthesis (Baltscheffsky, M., Ed.) Vol. 1, pp 845-848, Kluwer, Dordrecht] but also in the presence of NH2OH. (d) Activation energies, EA, of 50 kJ/mol were determined for the NH2R-induced reduction processes that alter the oxygen oscillation pattern from dark-adapted thylakoids. (e) Although marked differences exist between NH2OH and NH2NH2 in terms of the reduction mechanism and efficiency (which is about 20-fold in favor of NH2OH), both NH2R species exhibit the same order of rate constants as a function of the redox state Si in the nonperturbed water oxidase: kNH2R(S0) greater than kNH2R(S1) much less than kNH2R(S2) much greater than kNH2R(S3) The large difference between S2 and S3 in their reactivity toward NH2R is interpreted to indicate that a significant change in the electronic configuration and nuclear geometry occurs during the S2----S3 transition that makes the S3 state much less susceptible to NH2R. The implications of these findings are discussed with special emphasis on the possibility of complexed peroxide formation in redox state S3 postulated previously on the basis of theoretical considerations [Renger, G. (1978) in Photosynthetic Water Oxidation (Metzner, H., Ed.) pp 229-248, Academic Press, London].     

1H and 13C n.m.r. studies of pseudo-peptide analogues of the C-terminal tetrapeptide of gastrin

1H and 13C n.m.r. study of pseudo-peptide analogues of the C-terminal tetrapeptide of gastrin, obtained by replacing each peptide bond by a "reduced peptide bond", one at a time, e.g. Boc-Trp psi (CH2NH)Leu-Asp-Phe-NH2 2, Boc-Trp-Leu psi (CH2NH) Asp-Phe-NH2 3, Boc-Trp-Leu-Asp psi (CH2NH)Phe-NH2 4, were reported. The CH2NH bond was completely characterized. 1H and 13C spectroscopic data were reported. It appeared from the present work that the modifications produced by the replacement of a peptide bond by a CH2NH bond were localized around the CH2NH.     

Permeability of ammonia and amines in Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Bacillus firmus

Permeabilities of uncharged ammonia (NH3), methylamine (CH3NH2), and ethylamine (CH3CH2NH2) in the gram-negative phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides were measured directly in cells grown heterotrophically under aerobic conditions. The permeability of NH3 was 2.55 +/- 0.73 microns s-1 (n = 20), but the permeabilities of CH3NH2 (MA) and CH3CH2NH2 (EA) were higher, PMA = 17.8 +/- 2.8 microns s-1 (n = 50), PEA = 24.7 +/- 3.9 microns s-1 (n = 44). The relative permeabilities of amines were also determined from their effect on the pH gradient across the cell membrane at alkaline external pH. In aerobically grown R. sphaeroides, both techniques indicated that the permeability of CH3CH2NH2 was about 30% greater than that of CH3NH2 but that the permeability of NH3 was only about 1/5 that of CH3NH2. The relative permeabilities of NH3 (A) and CH3NH2 were different in R. sphaeroides cells grown under three different physiological conditions: (a) cells grown aerobically with ammonium sulfate (PA/PMA about 0.20), (b) cells grown anaerobically with ammonium sulfate as their nitrogen source (PA/PMA about 0.29), and (c) diazotrophic cells (PA/PMA about 0.38). NH3 was also found to be only about 1/3 as permeable as CH3NH2 in the alkalophilic gram-positive bacterium Bacillus firmus. The findings that permeability properties of NH3 and CH3NH2 are very different in different bacteria and vary according to the conditions under which the organism is grown need to be taken into account in the interpretation of experiments where [14C]methylamine is used as an ammonia analog.     

Mechanism of the membrane interaction of polynuclear platinum anticancer agents. Implications for cellular uptake

The interaction between phospholipids and polynuclear platinum drugs was studied as a mechanism model for cellular uptake of anticancer drugs. The interaction was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The transition temperature, enthalpy, and entropy of negatively charged phospholipids DPPS, DPPA, and DPPG were changed upon reaction with the trinuclear platinum complex [{trans-PtCl(NH3)2}2mu-Pt(NH3)2{H2N(CH2)6NH2}2](NO3)4 (I, BBR3464) and the dinuclear analogue [{trans-PtCl(NH3)2}mu-{(NH2)(CH2)3NH2(CH2)4(NH2)}Cl3 (II, BBR3571). This suggests that these platinum complexes interacted not only with the phosphate headgroup but also with the region of the fatty acid tail of liposomes and finally changed the fluidity of the membrane. Both noncovalent (presumably electrostatic and hydrogen bonding) and covalent interactions were involved in the reactions of the negatively charged phospholipids DPPA, DPPS, and DPPG with the highly positively charged platinum complexes. In contrast, few differences were seen for the zwitterionic phospholipids DPPC and DPPE. The binding ratio of BBR3464 to DPPA liposomes was higher than the ratio of BBR3464 to DPPS liposomes, and similar differences were seen for BBR3571. The binding ratios of the platinum complexes to negatively charged phospholipids DPPA, DPPS, and DPPG were slightly lower in a 100 mM chloride solution than in a chloride-free solution. The binding of BBR3464 and BBR3571 with the liposomes was significantly stronger than that with cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2], cisplatin. ESI-MS confirmed that the products of the incubation of BBR3464 with DPPA and DPPS correspond to chloride displacement and formation of [Pt3(NH3)6{NH2(CH2)6NH2}2(DPPA)2]2+ (1) and [Pt3(NH3)6{NH2(CH2)6NH2}2(DPPS)2]2+ (2), respectively. Similar observations were made for BBR3571. 31P NMR spectra confirmed that the site of binding for DPPA was the phosphate oxygen, whereas for DPPS, a binding site of the nitrogen of the serine side chain is indicated. Noncovalent interactions were also confirmed by use of the analogue [{Pt(NH3)3}2mu-Pt(NH3)2{H2N(CH2)6NH2}2](NO3)6 (III, 0,0,0/t,t,t). The implications of these results for the mechanism of cellular uptake of polynuclear platinum complexes are discussed.     

Interaction of ammonia with the water splitting enzyme of photosystem II

The effects of NH3 on the oxygen evolving enzyme have been investigated with EPR and steady-state O2 evolution. The following results were obtained. At low light intensity O2 evolution occurs in all centers even though ammonia is bound. This binding occurs in the S2 state and results in a modification of the multiline signal as reported earlier. However, the oscillations with flash number of the amplitude of the EPR signal are virtually unaffected, indicating that NH3 binding does not prevent S-state advancement. Inhibition of O2 evolution by NH3 measured at light intensities that are nearly saturating for untreated photosystem II is interpreted as being due to a slow down in the rate of S-state cycling. At very high light intensities NH3 is not able to inhibit oxygen evolution presumably because NH3 binding is S state dependent and the susceptible S state (S2) is turned over too quickly. NH3 binding resulting in the modified multiline signal does not occur in S1. When S1 is formed from fully NH3 modified S2 by deactivation or by three further flashes, the S1 state does not have NH3 bound. NH3 thus dissociates easily from S1. Earlier reports of NH3 binding in S1 may be explained by the observation that NH3 binding can occur upon incubation of samples in S2 at temperatures as low as 198 K. Evidence is obtained for an NH3 binding occurring slowly (30 s) in S3. This binding results in a block in S-state advancement as suggested earlier [Velthuys, B. R. (1975) Thesis, University of Leiden]. The results are interpreted in two possible models: (1) NH3 binding in S2 occurs in a substrate site, but it is rapidly exchanged by water upon S4 formation. (2) NH3 binding in S2 is not in a substrate site but instead in a structural site and remains bound while water is oxidized. Inherent in this model is that other NH3 binding sites, i.e., the Cl- site, and the slow NH3 binding site in S3 could be the true substrate sites. Some mechanistic implications are discussed.     

Ulcerogenic and healing impairing actions of monochloramine in rat stomachs: effects of zinc L-carnosine, polaprezinc.

Effects of a novel zinc compound (polaprezinc), N-(3-aminopropionyl)-L-histidinato zinc, on the mucosal ulcerogenic and healing impairing responses induced by monochloramine (NH2Cl) were examined in rat stomach. Oral administration of NH2Cl (> 60 mM) produced severe hemorrhagic lesions in unanesthetized rat stomachs with a marked increase of thiobarbituric acid reactants (TBAR). Pretreatment of the animals with polaprezinc (3 approximately 30 mg/kg, p.o.) showed a dose-dependent inhibition against gastric ulcerogenic and TBAR responses induced by NH2Cl (120 mM). Likewise, mucosal exposure to NH4OH (60 mM) in urethane anesthetized stomachs made ischemic by bleeding from the carotid artery (1 ml per 100 g body w.t.) resulted in severe gastric lesions. This ulcerogenic response caused NH4OH plus ischemia was also attenuated by prior application of polaprezinc as well as taurine (25 mg/ml, 1 ml). On the other hand, the healing of gastric mucosal lesions induced by NH2Cl occurred more slowly than of ethanol-induced lesions, and the latter was significantly delayed by the repeated administration of NH2Cl. Polaprezinc (> 10 mg/kg, p.o.) given twice daily for 7 days not only accelerated the healing of NH2Cl-induced gastric lesions but also antagonized the delayed healing of ethanol-induced lesions in the presence of NH2Cl as well. Polaprezinc showed a scavenging action against NH2Cl in vitro. These results suggest that NH2Cl caused deleterious action on the healing of pre-existing acute lesions as well as irritating action to the mucosa in the rat stomach. Polaprezinc not only protects the stomach against injury caused by NH2Cl but also promotes healing of NH2Cl-induced gastric lesions as well as the delayed healing of ethanol-induced lesions caused by NH2Cl. Although the detailed mechanisms underlying these actions of polaprezinc remain unknown, they may be partly attributable to a scavenging action of this agent against NH2Cl.     

Effects of [Nphe1]nociceptin(1-13)NH2, [Phe1(CH2-NH)Gly2]nociceptin(1- 13)NH2, and nocistatin on nociceptin inhibited constrictions of guinea pig isolated bronchus

Electric field stimulation (EFS) causes excitatory non adrenergic-non cholinergic (eNANC) and cholinergic constrictions in the guinea pig isolated bronchus, the activation of eNANC and cholinergic nerves respectively. We investigated the effects of [Nphe1]nociceptin(1-13)NH2 ([Nphe1]NC(1-13)NH2), [Phe1(CH2-NH)Gly2]nociceptin(1- 13)NH2 ([F/G] NC(1-13)NH2), and nocistatin (NST) on nociceptin (NC) inhibited constrictions in isolated bronchus of guinea pig. The results show that NC (1 micromol/L) inhibited EFS-induced eNANC and cholinergic constrictions compared with the control, in which nociceptin was not applied. After pretreatment with [Nphe1]NC(1-13)NH2, [F/G]NC(1-13)NH2, or NST, the inhibitions of NC were antagonized by [Nphe1]NC(1-13)NH2 and [F/G]NC(1-13)NH2 but not NST. However, [Nphe1]NC(1-13)NH2, [F/G]NC(1-13)NH2, and NST did not affect the inhibitions induced by morphine. Furthermore, [Nphe1]NC(1-13)NH2, [F/G]NC(1-13)NH2 and NST did not cause any appreciable effects on EFS-induced eNANC and cholinergic constrictions in guinea pig bronchi. The results demonstrate that [Nphe1]NC(1-13)NH2 and [F/G]NC(1- 13)NH2 but not NST act as selective antagonists of the NC receptor and the effects of NC on EFS-induced constrictions of guinea pig isolated bronchus.     

Circular dichroism study of the irreversibility of conformational changes induced by polyamine-linked dinuclear platinum compounds

In this work, the reversibility of both the B-->Z and B-->A conformational change in polymer DNA induced by polynuclear platinum compounds was studied. The compounds examined were: [[trans-PtCl(NH(3))(2)](2)[NH(2) (CH(2))(6)NH(2)]](2+) (BBR3005); [[trans-PtCl(NH(3))(2)](2)[mu-spermine-N1,N12]](4+) (BBR3535); [[trans-PtCl(NH(3))(2)](2)[mu-spermidine-N1,N8]](3+) (BBR3571); [[trans-PtCl(NH(3))(2)](2)[mu-BOC-spermidine]](2+) (BBR3537); and [[trans-PtCl(NH(3))(2)](2)[mu-trans-Pt(NH(3))(2)(H(2)N(CH(2))(6)NH(2))(2)]](4+) (BBR3464). The conformational changes were assessed by circular dichroism and the reversibility of the transitions was tested by subsequent titration with the DNA intercalator ethidium bromide (EtBr). Fluorescent quenching was also used to assess the ability of ethidium bromide to intercalate into A and/or Z-DNA induced by the compounds. The results were compared with those produced by the simple hexamminecobalt cation [Co(NH(3))(6)](3+). The data suggest that while conformational changes induced by electrostatic interactions are confirmed to be reversible, covalent binding induces irreversible changes in both the A and Z conformation. The relevance of these changes to the novel biological action of polynuclear platinum compounds is discussed.     

Decomposition of hydroxylamine by hemoglobin

The reaction between hydroxylamine (NH2OH) and human hemoglobin (Hb) at pH 6-8 and the reaction between NH2OH and methemoglobin (Hb+) chiefly at pH 7 were studied under anaerobic conditions at 25 degrees C. In presence of cyanide, which was used to trap Hb+, Hb was oxidized by NH2OH to methemoglobin cyanide with production of about 0.5 mol NH+4/mol of heme oxidized at pH 7. The conversion of Hb to Hb+ was first order in [Hb] (or nearly so) but the pseudo-first-order rate constant was not strictly proportional to [NH2OH]. Thus, the apparent second-order rate constant at pH 7 decreased from about 30 M-1 X s-1 to a limiting value of 11.3 M-1 X s-1 with increasing [NH2OH]. The rate of Hb oxidation was not much affected by cyanide, whereas there was no reaction between NH2OH and carbonmonoxyhemoglobin (HbCO). The pseudo-first-order rate constant for Hb oxidation at 500 microM NH2OH increased from about 0.008 s-1 at pH 6 to 0.02 s-1 at pH 8. The oxidation of Hb by NH2OH terminated prematurely at 75-90% completion at pH 7 and at 30-35% completion at pH 8. Data on the premature termination of reaction fit the titration curve for a group with pK = 7.5-7.7. NH2OH was decomposed by Hb+ to N2, NH+4, and a small amount of N2O in what appears to be a dismutation reaction. Nitrite and hydrazine were not detected, and N2 and NH+4 were produced in nearly equimolar amounts. The dismutation reaction was first order in [Hb+] and [NH2OH] only at low concentrations of reactants and was cleanly inhibited by cyanide. The spectrum of Hb+ remained unchanged during the reaction, except for the gradual formation of some choleglobin-like (green) pigment, whereas in the presence of CO, HbCO was formed. Kinetics are consistent with the view advanced previously by J. S. Colter and J. H. Quastel [1950) Arch. Biochem. 27, 368-389) that the decomposition of NH2OH proceeds by a mechanism involving a Hb/Hb+ cycle (reactions [1] and [2]) in which Hb is oxidized to Hb+ by NH2OH.     

Dissociation of cAMP accumulation and phosphate uptake in opossum kidney (OK) cells with parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP)

Bovine parathyroid hormone (PTH) 1-34 [bPTH(1-34)] and human PTH related protein [hPTHrP(1-34)] stimulated cAMP accumulation in opossum kidney (OK) cells with Km of 5 x 10(-9) M, but inhibition of phosphate uptake was obtained with 17-fold lower Km of 3 x 10(-10) M. Phosphate uptake was partially inhibited with [Nle8.18Tyr34]bPTH(3-34)NH2 without concomitant cAMP stimulation. With hPTHrP(7-34)NH2, cAMP accumulation was increased in parallel to inhibition of phosphate uptake. [D-Trp12Tyr34]bPTH(7-34)NH2 and [Tyr34]hPTH(7-34)NH2 had no agonist activity on cellular cAMP and inhibition of phosphate uptake. bPTH(1-34)-stimulated cAMP accumulation was antagonized by [Nle8.18Tyr34]bPTH(3-34)NH2, [D-Trp12Tyr34]bPTH(7-34)NH2, hPTHrP(7-34)NH2 and [Tyr34]hPTH(7-34)NH2 with Ki of 1.4 x 10(-7), 2 x 10(-7), 4.7 x 10(-7) and 3.7 x 10(-6) M, respectively. But [Nle8.18Tyr34]bPTH(3-34)NH2 and [D-Trp12Tyr34]bPTH(7-34)NH2 reversed the inhibition of phosphate uptake only marginally, and hPTHrP(7-34)NH2 and [Tyr34]hPTH(7-34)NH2 were inactive. With hPTHrP(1-34) the Ki for cAMP accumulation of [Nle8,18Tyr34]bPTH(3-34)NH2 and hPTHrP(7-34)NH2 were 1.9 x 10(-7) and 7.2 x 10(-7) M, and inhibition of phosphate uptake was partially reversed with [Nle8,18Tyr34]bPTH(3-34)NH2, but not with hPTHrP(7-34)NH2. The present results indicate that truncated hPTHrP(7-34)NH2, unlike [Tyr34]hPTH(7-34)NH2 and [D-Trp12Tyr34]bPTH(7-34)NH2, elevates cellular cAMP and inhibits phosphate uptake. bPTH(1-34)- and hPTHrP(1-34)-evoked cAMP accumulation is suppressed by PTH and PTHrP fragments while inhibition of phosphate uptake remains largely unaltered.     

The effect of hydroxylamine on the activity and aggregate structure of autotrophic nitrifying bioreactor cultures

Addition of hydroxylamine (NH2OH) to autotrophic biomass in nitrifying bioreactors affected the activity, physical structure, and microbial ecology of nitrifying aggregates. When NH2OH is added to nitrifying cultures in 6-h batch experiments, the initial NH3-N uptake rates were physiologically accelerated by a factor of 1.4-13. NH2OH addition caused a 20-40% decrease in the median aggregate size, broadened the shape of the aggregate size distribution by up to 230%, and caused some of the microcolonies to appear slightly more dispersed. Longer term NH2OH addition in fed batch bioreactors decreased the median aggregate size, broadened the aggregate size distribution, and decreased NH3-N removal from >90% to values ranging between 75% and 17%. This altered performance is explained by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results that show inhibition of nitrifying populations, and by qPCR results showing that the copy numbers of amoA and nxrA genes gradually decreased by up to an order-of-magnitude. Longer term NH2OH addition damaged the active biomass. This research clarifies the effect of NH2OH on nitrification and demonstrates the need to incorporate NH2OH-related dynamics of the nitrifying biomass into mathematical models, accounting for both ecophysiological and structural responses.     

Feedback inhibition of nitrogenase.

No inhibition of nitrogenase activity by physiological levels of NH4+ or carbamyl phosphate was observed in extracts of Azotobacter vinelandii. All of the 15N2 reduced by cultures which received no NH4+ was found in the cells. By contrast, more than 95% of the 15N2 reduced by cultures which had been given NH4+ was found in the medium. Failure to examine the culture medium would lead to the erroneous conclusion that N2 fixation is inhibited by NH4+. Nitrogenase in a derepressed mutant strain of A. vinelandii was fully active in vivo in the presence of NH4+. The addition of NH4Cl to N2-fixing cultures resulted in no decrease in the N2-reducing activity of intact cells of Klebsiella pneumoniae or Clostridium pasteurianum and only a small (15%) decrease in A. vinelandii. Therefore, no significant inhibition of nitrogenase by NH4+ or metabolites derived from NH4+ exists in A. vinelandii, K. pneumoniae, or C. pasteurianum.     

Leaf-atmosphere NH(3) exchange of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in relation to mineral N nutrition and symbiotic N(2) fixation.

Plant-atmosphere NH(3) exchange was studied in white clover (Trifolium repens L. cv. Seminole) growing in nutrient solution containing 0 (N(2) based), 0.5 (low N) or 4.5 (high N) mM NO(3)(-). The aim was to show whether the NH(3) exchange potential is influenced by the proportion of N(2) fixation relative to NO(3)(-) supply. During the treatment, inhibition of N(2) fixation by NO(3)(-) was followed by in situ determination of total nitrogenase activity (TNA), and stomatal NH(3) compensation points (chi(NH(3))) were calculated on the basis of apoplastic NH4(+) concentration ([NH4(+)]) and pH. Whole-plant NH(3) exchange, transpiration and net CO(2) exchange were continuously recorded with a controlled cuvette system. Although shoot total N concentration increased with the level of mineral N application, tissue and apoplastic [NH4(+)] as well as chi(NH(3)) were equal in the three treatments. In NH(3)-free air, net NH(3) emission rates of <1 nmol m(-2) s(-1) were observed in both high-N and N(2)-based plants. When plants were supplied with air containing 40 nmol mol(-1) NH(3), the resulting net NH(3) uptake was higher in plants which acquired N exclusively from symbiotic N(2) fixation, compared to NO(3)(-) grown plants. The results indicate that symbiotic N(2) fixation and mineral N acquisition in white clover are balanced with respect to the NH4(+) pool leading to equal chi(NH(3)) in plants growing with or without NO(3)(-). At atmospheric NH(3) concentrations exceeding chi(NH(3)), the NH(3) uptake rate is controlled by the N demand of the plants.     

Investigating the kinetic mechanism of inhibition of elongation factor 2 kinase by NH125: evidence of a common in vitro artifact

Evidence that elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF-2K) has potential as a target for anticancer therapy and possibly for the treatment of depression is emerging. Here the steady-state kinetic mechanism of eEF-2K is presented using a peptide substrate and is shown to conform to an ordered sequential mechanism with ATP binding first. Substrate inhibition by the peptide was observed and revealed to be competitive with ATP, explaining the observed ordered mechanism. Several small molecules are reported to inhibit eEF-2K activity with the most notable being the histidine kinase inhibitor NH125, which has been used in a number of studies to characterize eEF-2K activity in cells. While NH125 was previously reported to inhibit eEF-2K in vitro with an IC(50) of 60 nM, its mechanism of action was not established. Using the same kinetic assay, the ability of an authentic sample of NH125 to inhibit eEF-2K was assessed over a range of substrate and inhibitor concentrations. A typical dose-response curve for the inhibition of eEF-2K by NH125 is best fit to an IC(50) of 18 ± 0.25 μM and a Hill coefficient of 3.7 ± 0.14, suggesting that NH125 is a weak inhibitor of eEF-2K under the experimental conditions of a standard in vitro kinase assay. To test the possibility that NH125 is a potent inhibitor of eEF2 phosphorylation, we assessed its ability to inhibit the phosphorylation of eEF2. Under standard kinase assay conditions, NH125 exhibits a similar weak ability to inhibit the phosphorylation of eEF2 by eEF-2K. Notably, the activity of NH125 is severely abrogated by the addition of 0.1% Triton to the kinase assay through a process that can be reversed upon dilution. These studies suggest that NH125 is a nonspecific colloidal aggregator in vitro, a notion further supported by the observation that NH125 inhibits other protein kinases, such as ERK2 and TRPM7 in a manner similar to that of eEF-2K. As NH125 is reported to inhibit eEF-2K in a cellular environment, its ability to inhibit eEF2 phosphorylation was assessed in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer, A549 lung cancer, and HEK-293T cell lines using a Western blot approach. No sign of a decrease in the level of eEF2 phosphorylation was observed up to 12 h following addition of NH125 to the media. Furthermore, contrary to the previously reported literatures, NH125 induced the phosphorylation of eEF-2.     

Truncated glucagon-like peptide-1 interacts with exendin receptors on dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. Identification of a mammalian analogue of the reptilian peptide exendin-4.

To find mammalian analogues of exendin-4, a peptide from Helodermatidae venoms that interacts with newly discovered exendin receptors on dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas, we examined the actions of recent additions to the vasoactive intestinal peptide/secretin/glucagon family of regulatory peptides. In every respect tested, the truncated form of glucagon-like peptide-1, GLP-1(7-36)NH2, mimicked the actions of exendin-4. Like exendin-4, GLP-1(7-36)NH2 caused an increase in acinar cAMP without stimulating amylase release. GLP-1(7-36)NH2-induced increases in cAMP were inhibited progressively by increasing concentrations of the specific exendin-receptor antagonist, exendin(9-39)NH2. In dispersed acini from guinea pig and rat pancreas, concentrations of GLP-1(7-36)NH2 that stimulated increases in cAMP caused potentiation of cholecystokinin-induced amylase release. Binding of 125I-[Y39]exendin-4 or 125I-GLP-1(7-36)NH2 to dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas was inhibited by adding increasing concentrations of unlabeled exendin-4 or GLP-1(7-36)NH2. We conclude that the mammalian peptide GLP-1(7-36)NH2 interacts with exendin receptors on dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. Exendin(9-39)NH2, a competitive antagonist of the actions of GLP-1(7-36)NH2 in pancreatic acini, may be a useful tool for examining the physiological actions of this peptide.     

Polyamine-DNA interactions. Condensation of chromatin and naked DNA

We have used flow linear dichroism (LD) and light scattering at 90 degrees to study the condensation of both DNA and calf thymus chromatin by polyamines, such as spermine, spermidine and its analogs designated by formula NH3+(CH2)iNH2+(CH2)jNH3+, where i = 2,3 and j = 2,3, putrescine, cadaverine and MgCl2. It has been found that the different polyamines affect DNA and chromatin in a similar way. The level of compaction of the chromatin fibers induced by spermine, spermidine and the triamines NH3+(CH2)3NH2+(CH2)3NH3+ and NH3+(CH2)3NH2+(CH2)2NH3+ and MgCl2 is found to be identical. The triamine NH3+(CH2)3NH2+(CH2)2NH3+ and the diamines studied condense neither chromatin nor DNA. This drastic difference in the action of the triamines indicates that not only the charge, but also the structure of the polycations might play essential roles in their interactions with DNA and chromatin. It is shown that a mixture of mono- and multivalent cations affect DNA and chromatin condensation competitively, but not synergistically, as claimed in a recent report by Sen and Crothers (Biochemistry 25, 1495-1503, 1986). We have also estimated the extent of negative charge neutralization produced by some of the polyamines on their binding to chromatin fibers. The stoichiometry of polyamine binding at which condensation of chromatin is completed is found to be two polyamine molecules per DNA turn. The extent of neutralization of the DNA phosphates by the histones in these compact fibers is estimated to be about 55%. The model of polyamine interaction with chromatin is discussed.