The amino acid sequence of human chorionic gonadotropin. The alpha subunit and beta subunit.

The amino acid sequences of both the alpha and beta subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin have been determined. The amino acid sequence of the alpha subunit is: Ala - Asp - Val - Gln - Asp - Cys - Pro - Glu - Cys-10 - Thr - Leu - Gln - Asp - Pro - Phe - Ser - Gln-20 - Pro - Gly - Ala - Pro - Ile - Leu - Gln - Cys - Met - Gly-30 - Cys - Cys - Phe - Ser - Arg - Ala - Tyr - Pro - Thr - Pro-40 - Leu - Arg - Ser - Lys - Lys - Thr - Met - Leu - Val - Gln-50 - Lys - Asn - Val - Thr - Ser - Glu - Ser - Thr - Cys - Cys-60 - Val - Ala - Lys - Ser - Thr - Asn - Arg - Val - Thr - Val-70 - Met - Gly - Gly - Phe - Lys - Val - Glu - Asn - His - Thr-80 - Ala - Cys - His - Cys - Ser - Thr - Cys - Tyr - Tyr - His-90 - Lys - Ser. Oligosaccharide side chains are attached at residues 52 and 78. In the preparations studied approximately 10 and 30% of the chains lack the initial 2 and 3 NH2-terminal residues, respectively. This sequence is almost identical with that of human luteinizing hormone (Sairam, M. R., Papkoff, H., and Li, C. H. (1972) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 48, 530-537). The amino acid sequence of the beta subunit is: Ser - Lys - Glu - Pro - Leu - Arg - Pro - Arg - Cys - Arg-10 - Pro - Ile - Asn - Ala - Thr - Leu - Ala - Val - Glu - Lys-20 - Glu - Gly - Cys - Pro - Val - Cys - Ile - Thr - Val - Asn-30 - Thr - Thr - Ile - Cys - Ala - Gly - Tyr - Cys - Pro - Thr-40 - Met - Thr - Arg - Val - Leu - Gln - Gly - Val - Leu - Pro-50 - Ala - Leu - Pro - Gin - Val - Val - Cys - Asn - Tyr - Arg-60 - Asp - Val - Arg - Phe - Glu - Ser - Ile - Arg - Leu - Pro-70 - Gly - Cys - Pro - Arg - Gly - Val - Asn - Pro - Val - Val-80 - Ser - Tyr - Ala - Val - Ala - Leu - Ser - Cys - Gln - Cys-90 - Ala - Leu - Cys - Arg - Arg - Ser - Thr - Thr - Asp - Cys-100 - Gly - Gly - Pro - Lys - Asp - His - Pro - Leu - Thr - Cys-110 - Asp - Asp - Pro - Arg - Phe - Gln - Asp - Ser - Ser - Ser - Ser - Lys - Ala - Pro - Pro - Pro - Ser - Leu - Pro - Ser-130 - Pro - Ser - Arg - Leu - Pro - Gly - Pro - Ser - Asp - Thr-140 - Pro - Ile - Leu - Pro - Gln. Oligosaccharide side chains are found at residues 13, 30, 121, 127, 132, and 138. The proteolytic enzyme, thrombin, which appears to cleave a limited number of arginyl bonds, proved helpful in the determination of the beta sequence.     

Synthesis, biological activity and conformational analysis of cyclic GRF analogs

A novel cyclic GRF analog, cyclo(Asp8-Lys12)-[Asp8,Ala15]-GRF(1-29)-NH2, i.e. cyclo8,12[Asp8,Ala15]-GRF(1-29)-NH2, was synthesized by the solid phase procedure and found to retain significant biological activity. Solid phase cyclization of Asp8 to Lys12 proceeded rapidly (approximately 2 h) using the BOP reagent. Substitution of Ala2 with D-Ala2 and/or NH2-terminal replacement (desNH2-Tyr1 or N-MeTyr1) in the cyclo8,12[Asp8,Ala15]-GRF(1-29)-NH2 system resulted in highly potent analogs that were also active in vivo. Conformational analysis (circular dichroism and molecular dynamics calculations based on NOE-derived distance constraints) demonstrated that cyclo8,12[Asp8,Ala15]-GRF(1-29)-NH2 contains a long alpha-helical segment even in aqueous solution. A series of cyclo8,12 stereoisomers containing D-Asp8 and/or D-Lys12 were prepared and also found to be highly potent and to retain significant alpha-helical conformation. The high biological activity of cyclo8,12[N-MeTyr1,D-Ala2,Asp8,Ala15]-GRF(1-29)- NH2 may be explained on the basis of retention of a preferred bioactive conformation.     

Fluorescent oligopeptide substrates for kinetic characterization of the specificity of Astacus protease

The design of fluorescent N-dansylated oligopeptides based on the tubulin cleavage pattern by Astacus protease yields substrates that are turned over up to 10(5) times faster than those presently available. On the basis of this study, an optimal substrate for Astacus protease contains seven or more amino acids and minimally requires at least five amino acids. Direct examination of the formation and breakdown of the ES complex shows its formation occurs within milliseconds at 25 degrees C. The best heptapeptide substrate, Dns-Pro-Lys-Arg-Ala-Pro-Trp-Val, is cleaved only between the Arg-Ala (P1-P1') bond with kinetic parameters kcat = 380 s-1 and Km = 3.7 x 10(-4) M. The presence of Lys or Arg in the P1 and P2 positions yields high-turnover substrates. In the P3 position, the enzyme prefers Pro greater than Val greater than Leu greater than Ala greater than Gly, following the same order of preference seen in the tubulin cleavage pattern. Substitution of Leu for Ala in P1' and of Ser for Pro in P2' decreases activity by 10(5)- and 10(2)-fold, respectively. In position P3', substitution of Trp for Leu leaves the activity unaltered. However, introduction of the Trp fluorophore greatly enhances the sensitivity of the assay due to a 10-fold increase in indole fluorescence for cleavage of any peptide bond between the tryptophan and the dansyl group. Such an energy-transfer-based assay should have widespread use for detection of neutral proteases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The primary structure of the β-subunit of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The complete amino acid sequence of the β-subunit of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase was determined. The β-subunit contained four methionine residues. Thus, five peptides were obtained after cleavage of the carboxymethylated β-subunit with cyanogen bromide, and were isolated on Sephadex G-75 column chromatography. The amino acid sequences of the cyanogen bromide peptides were established by characterization of the peptides obtained after digestion with trypsin, chymotrypsin, thermolysin, or Staphylococcus aureus protease. The major sequencing techniques used were automated and manual Edman degradations. The five cyanogen bromide peptides were aligned by means of the amino acid sequences of the peptides containing methionine purified from the tryptic hydrolysate of the carboxymethylated β-subunit. The amino acid sequence of all the 238 residues was as follows: ProAlaGlnAspAsnSerArgPheValIleArgAsp ArgAsnTrpHis ProLysAlaLeuThrPro-Asp — TyrLysThrSerIleAlaArg SerProArgGlnAla LeuValSerIleProGlnSer — IleSerGluThrThrGly ProAsnPheSerHisLeu GlyPheGlyAlaHisAsp-His — AspLeuLeuLeuAsnPheAsn AsnGlyGlyLeu ProIleGlyGluArgIle-Ile — ValAlaGlyArgValValAsp GlnTyrGlyLysPro ValProAsnThrLeuValGluMet — TrpGlnAlaAsnAla GlyGlyArgTyrArg HisLysAsnAspArgTyrLeuAlaPro — LeuAspProAsn PheGlyGlyValGly ArgCysLeuThrAspSerAspGlyTyrTyr — SerPheArg ThrIleLysProGlyPro TyrProTrpArgAsnGlyProAsnAsp — TrpArgProAla HisIleHisPheGlyIle SerGlyProSerIleAlaThr-Lys — LeuIleThrGlnLeuTyr PheGluGlyAspPro LeuIleProMetCysProIleVal — LysSerIleAlaAsn ProGluAlaValGlnGln LeuIleAlaLysLeuAspMetAsnAsn — AlaAsnProMet AsnCysLeuAlaTyr ArgPheAspIleValLeuArgGlyGlnArgLysThrHis PheGluAsnCys. The sequence published earlier in summary form (Iwaki et al., 1979, J. Biochem.86, 1159–1162) contained a few errors which are pointed out in this paper.     

NH2-terminal sequences of DNA-, heparin-, and gelatin-binding tryptic fragments from human plasma fibronectin

NH₂-terminal sequence analysis was performed on subregions of human plasma fibronectin including 24,000-dalton (24K) DNA-binding, 29,000-dalton (29K) gelatin-binding, and 18,000-dalton (18K) heparin-binding tryptic fragments. These fragments were obtained from fibronectin after extensive trypsin digestion followed by sequential affinity purification on gelatin-Sepharose, heparin-agarose, and DNA-cellulose columns. The gelatin-binding fragment was further purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, and the DNA-binding and heparin-binding fragments were further purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The 29K fragment had the following NH₂-terminal sequence: AlaAlaValTyrGlnProGlnProHisProGlnProPro (Pro)TyrGlyHis HisValThrAsp(His)(Thr)ValValTyrGly(Ser) ?(Ser)?-Lys. The NH₂-terminal sequence of a 50K, gelatin-binding, subtilisin fragment by L. I. Gold, A. Garcia-Pardo, B. Prangione, E. C. Franklin, and E. Pearlstein (1979, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA76, 4803–4807) is identical to positions 3–19 (with the exception of some ambiguity at position 14) of the 29K fragment. These data strongly suggest that the 29K tryptic fragment is included in the 50K subtilisin fragment, and that subtilisin cleaves fibronectin between the Ala²Val³ residues of the 29K tryptic fragment. The 18K heparin-binding fragment had the following NH₂-terminal sequence: (Glu)AlaProGlnProHisCysIleSerLysTyrIle LeuTyrTrpAspProLysAsnSerValGly?(Pro) LysGluAla?(Val)(Pro). The 29K gelatin-binding and 18K heparin-binding fragments have proline-rich NH₂-terminal sequences suggesting that they may have arisen from protease-sensitive, random coil regions of fibronectin corresponding to interdomain regions preceding macromolecular-binding domains. Both of these fragments contain the identical sequence ProGlnProHis, a sequence which may be repeated in other interdomain regions of fibronectin. The 24K DNA-binding fragment has the following NH₂-terminal sequence: SerAspThrValProSerProCysAspLeuGlnPhe ValGluValThrAspVal LysValThrIleMetTrpThrProProGluSerAla ValThrGlyTyrArgVal AspValCysProValAsnLeuProGlyGluHisGly Gln(Cys)LeuProIleSer. The sequence of positions 9–22 are homologous to positions 15–28 of the α chain of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli. The homology observed suggests that this stretch of amino acids may be a DNA-binding site.     

Pyruvate carboxylase: isolation of the biotin-containing tryptic peptide and the determination of its primary sequency

The biotin-containing tryptic peptides of pyruvate carboxylase from sheep, chicken, and turkey liver mitochondria have been isolated and their primary structures determined. The amino acid sequences of the 19 residue peptides from chicken and turkey are identical and share a common sequence of 14 residues around biocytin with the 24-residue peptide isolated from sheep. The sequences obtained were: residue 1 → 11 Avian: Gly Ala Pro Leu Val Leu Ser Ala Met Biocytin Met Sheep: Gly Gln Pro Leu Val Leu Ser Ala Met Biocytin Met residues 12 → 19 or 24 Avian: Glu Thr Val Val Thr Ala Pro Arg Sheep: Glu Thr Val Val Thr Ser Pro Val Thr Glu Gly Val Arg A sensitive radiochemical assay for biotin was developed based on the tight binding of biotin by avidin. The ability of zinc sulfate to precipitate, without dissociating, the avidin-biotin complex provided a convenient procedure for separating free and bound biotin, and hence, for back-titrating a standard amount of avidin with [¹⁴C]biotin.     

In vitro stability of growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) analogs in porcine plasma.

The stability of growth-hormone releasing factor (growth regulating factor; GRF) analogs in porcine plasma was examined. GRF analogs were incubated in porcine plasma at 37 degrees C, extracted and subsequently analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). GRF(1-29)-NH2 was rapidly broken down in the plasma with a degradation rate of t1/2 = 13 min. The primary degradation product was identified as GRF(3-29)-NH2. Substitution of Gly15 by Ala15 slightly prolonged the plasma half-life (t1/2 = 17 min) and the major degradative fragment was found to be [Ala15]GRF(3-29)-NH2. The cleavage between the 2 and 3 position of the peptide was not inhibited by trasylol at a concentration of 1,000 KIU/ml but was dramatically reduced by the combined use of diprotin A and trasylol. Absence of the free amino group at the N-terminus and/or substitution of a D-amino acid residue at the penultimate position completely prevented cleavage between the 2 and 3 position in the structural linear GRF analogs. Side-chain to side-chain cyclization between Asp8 and Lys12 amino acid residues significantly improved the stability of GRF in plasma with t1/2 greater than 2 hr. An additional stability was provided by substitution of D-Ala2 for Ala2 in the structural cyclic analog. Cyclization between Lys21 and Asp25 also improved the stability of the GRF peptide in the plasma. Stability was further enhanced by the presence of D-Ala2 or by forming a dicyclic analog through an additional linkage between Asp8 and Lys12.     

Substrate specificity of cucumisin on synthetic peptides

The substrate specificity of cucumisin [EC 3.4.21.25] was identified by the use of the synthetic peptide substrates Leu(m)-Pro-Glu-Ala-Leu(n) (m = 0-4, n = 0-3). Neither Pro-Glu-Ala-Leu (m = 0) nor Leu-Pro-Glu-Ala (n = 0) was cleaved by cucumisin, however other analogus peptides were cleaved between Glu-Ala. The hydrolysis rates of Leu(m)-Pro-Glu-Ala-Leu increased with the increase of m = 1 to 2 and 3, but was however, essentially same with the increase of m = 3 to 4. Similarly, the hydrolysis rates of Leu-Leu-Pro-Glu-Ala-Leu(n) increased with the increase of n = 0 to 1 and 2, but was essentially same with the increase of n = 2 to 3. Then, it was concluded that cucumisin has a S5-S3' subsite length. In order to identify the substrate specificity at P1 position, Leu-Leu-Pro-X-Ala-Leu (X; Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Asp, Glu, Lys, Arg, Asn, Gln, Phe, Tyr, Ser, Thr, Met, Trp, His) were synthesized and digested by cucumisin. Cucumisin showed broad specificity at the P1 position. However, cucumisin did not cleave the C-terminal side of Gly, Ile, Pro, and preferred Leu, Asn, Gln, Thr, and Met, especially Met. Moreover, the substrates, Leu-Leu-Pro-Glu-Y-Leu (Y; Gly, Ala, Ser, Leu, Val, Glu, Lys, Phe) were synthesized and digested by cucumisin. Cucumisin did not cleave the N-terminal side of Val but preferred Gly, Ser, Ala, and Lys especially Ser. The specificity of cucumisin for naturally occurring peptides does not agree strictly with the specificity obtained by synthetic peptides at the P1 or P1' position alone, but it becomes clear that the most of the cleavage sites on naturally occurring peptides by cucumisin contain suitable amino acid residues at P1 and (or) P1' positions. Moreover, cucumisin prefers Pro than Leu at P2 position, indicating that the specificity at P2 position differs from that of papain.     

Semisynthesis of human growth hormone-releasing factor by trypsin catalyzed coupling of leucine amide to a C-terminal acid precursor.

Human growth hormone-releasing factor, GRF(1-44)-NH2, was synthesized by trypsin catalyzed coupling of Leu-NH2 to Arg43 of the precursor, GRF(1-43)-OH, prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis. The semisynthetic GRF(1-44)-NH2 was fully characterized and showed full potency in the rat pituitary in vitro bioassay. Conversion to GRF(1-44)-NH2 was limited to 60-70% in both 75% v:v N,N'-dimethylacetamide and 95% v:v 1,4-butanediol due to competing transpeptidations at Arg41 and Arg38 generating [Leu42]-GRF(1-42)-NH2 and [Leu39]-GRF(1-39)-NH2 side-products, respectively. The rates of formation and yields of GRF(1-44)-NH2 versus pH, Leu-NH2 concentration, and solvent composition were also studied.     

The primary structure of the COOH-terminal half of cholera toxin subunit A1 containing the ADP-ribosylation site

The sequence of 96 amino acid residues from the COOH-terminus of the active subunit of cholera toxin, A₁, has been determined as PheAsnValAsnAspVal LeuGlyAlaTyrAlaProHisProAsxGluGlu GluValSerAlaLeuGlyGly IleProTyrSerGluIleTyrGlyTrpTyrArg ValHisPheGlyValLeuAsp GluGluLeuHisArgGlyTyrArgAspArgTyr TyrSerAsnLeuAspIleAla ProAlaAlaAspGlyTyrGlyLeuAlaGlyPhe ProProGluHisArgAlaTrp ArgGluGluProTrpIleHisHisAlaPro ProGlyCysGlyAsnAlaProArg(OH). This is the largest fragment obtained by BrCN cleavage of the subunit A₁ (M_r 23,000), and has previously been indicated to contain the active site for the adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity. Unequivocal identification of the COOH-terminal structure was achieved by separation and analysis of the terminal peptide after the specific chemical cleavage at the only cysteine residue in A₁ polypeptide. The site of self ADP-ribosylation in the A₁ subunit [C. Y. Lai, Q.-C. Xia, and P. T. Salotra (1983) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.116, 341–348] has now been identified as Arg-50 of this peptide, 46 residues removed from the COOH-terminus. The cysteine that forms disulfide bridge to A₂ subunit in the holotoxin is at position 91.     

Sequences of tryptic peptides containing the five cysteinyl residues of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Rhodospirillum rubrum

Tryptic peptides which account for all five cysteinyl residues in ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Rhodospirillum rubrum have been purified and sequenced. Collectively, these peptides contain 94 of the approximately 500 amino acid residues per molecule of subunit. Due to one incomplete cleavage at a site for trypsin and two incomplete chymotryptic-like cleavages, eight major radioactive peptides (rather than five as predicted) were recovered from tryptic digests of the enzyme that had been carboxymethylated with [³H]iodoacetate. The established sequences are: GlyTyrThrAlaPheValHisCys¹Lys TyrValAspLeuAlaLeuLysGluGluAspLeuIleAla GlyGlyGluHisValLeuCys¹AlaTyr AlaGlyTyrGlyTyrValAlaThrAlaAlaHisPheAla AlaGluSerSerThrGlyThrAspValGluValCys¹ ThrThrAsxAsxPheThrArg AlaCys¹ThrProIleIleSerGlyGlyMetAsnAla LeuArg ProPheAlaGluAlaCys¹HisAlaPheTrpLeuGly GlyAsnPheIleLys In these peptides, radioactive carboxymethylcysteinyl residues are denoted with asterisks and the sites of incomplete cleavage with vertical wavy lines. None of the peptides appear homologous with either of two cysteinyl-containing, active-site peptides previously isolated from spinach ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase.     

Synthesis and biological activity of novel C-terminal-extended and biotinylated growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) analogs.

A series of novel hGRF(1-29)-NH2 analogs were synthesized and biotinylated. The immunological and biological activities of these analogs were then characterized. To distance the biotin moiety from the putative bioactive core, a C-terminal spacer arm consisting of -Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2 (-GGC) was added to hGRF(1-29)-NH2 (hGRF29) and analogs, with subsequent biotinylation performed at the cysteine residue. Neither addition of the C-terminal spacer arm nor biotinylation affected affinity of these analogs for GRF antibody. Relative to hGRF(1-44)-NH2 (hGRF44: potency = 1.0), the biotinylated analogs were equipotent in vitro to their nonbiotinylated, parent compounds: [desNH2Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15]hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocyt in)-NH2 (4.7) = [Ala15]hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocytin)-NH2 (3.9) greater than hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocytin)-NH2 (0.8). Based upon cumulative GH release data in vivo (0-60 min postinjection), [desNH2Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15]hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocyt in)-NH2, [Ala15]hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocytin)-NH2, and hGRF29-GGC-(tpBiocytin)-NH2 displayed 8.6, 5.5, and 0.8 times, respectively, the potency of hGRF44. These in vivo potency values were not significantly different from the corresponding parent compounds (i.e., with or without the C-terminal spacer arm). In summary, biotinylated hGRF analogs have been developed that retain full immunoreactivity and potent bioactivity (in vitro and in vivo), thus permitting their use in GRF receptor isolation, ELISA, and histochemical procedures.     

Studies on the subsite specificity of the rat brain puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase

The specificity of the puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase from rat brain was examined. Using L-alanyl-beta-naphthylamide as substrate Vmax of the reaction was shown to be pH independent over the range of 5.5-9.0, while Km exhibited a pKa of 7.7. This latter value corresponds to the pKa of the amino group of the substrate. Using X-Ala and X-Leu to examine the specificity of the P1 site it was found that Arg and Lys exhibit the highest affinity, followed by Met, Val, Leu, Trp, and Phe, which bind congruent to 5- to 20-fold less well. Although Km varied more than 20-fold within this series, Vmax showed considerably less variation. Significantly weaker binding was observed with a P1 Gly, Ala, Ser, or Pro with no binding detectable with a P1 Glu. The presence of a P'1 Leu compared to P'1 Ala results in an approximate 10-fold decrease in Km with little change in Vmax. The effect of varying P'1 residues was examined with the series Leu-X. In this case basic and hydrophobic amino acids, with the exception of Val, all exhibit nearly the same Km. The binding of Arg-Arg and Lys-Lys showed the same Km as obtained for Arg-Leu or Lys-Leu, respectively. When Leu-Ser-Phe was compared to Leu-Ser the P'2 residue led to a 100-fold decrease in Km and slightly less than a 5-fold increase in Vmax. In contrast the addition of a P'2 Met to Leu-Trp results in only a 3-fold decrease in Km and a 3-fold increase in Vmax. The results indicate a preference for a basic or hydrophobic residue in the P1 and P'1 sites and indicate subsite-subsite interactions which primarily affect binding.     

Role of residue 478 as a determinant of the substrate specificity of cytochrome P450 2B1.

Two allelic variants and eight site-directed mutants of cytochrome P450 2B1 differing at residue 478 have been expressed in COS cells and assayed for androstenedione hydroxylase activities. The 478Gly and 478Ala variants and five mutants (Ser, Thr, Val, Ile, and Leu) exhibited 16 beta-OH:16 alpha-OH ratios ranging from 0.7 to 9.3, whereas the Pro, Glu, and Arg mutants were expressed but inactive. The seven samples active toward androstenedione also exhibited testosterone 16 beta-OH:16 alpha-OH ratios ranging from 0.4 to 2.3. With both steroids, the Gly variant had the highest 16 beta-hydroxylase activity, and the 16 beta-OH:16 alpha-OH ratio increased with the size of aliphatic size chains (Ala, Val, and Ile/Leu). The highest ratio of androgen 15 alpha:16-hydroxylation was observed with the Ser mutant. On the basis of previous work indicating decreased susceptibility of the 478Ala variant in liver microsomal and reconstituted systems to inactivation by chloramphenicol analogs, methodology was refined for monitoring enzyme inactivation in COS cell microsomes. The Gly and Ala variants were inactivated by chloramphenicol with similar rate constants, whereas the Ser and Val mutants were inactivated more slowly, and the Leu mutant was refractory. Only the Gly variant was inactivated by the chloramphenicol analog N-(2-p-nitrophenethyl)chlorofluoroacetamide. Thus, the side chain of residue 478 appears to be a major determinant of enzyme inactivation as well as of androgen hydroxylation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Differential effect of amino acid residues on the stability of double helices formed from polyribonucleotides and its possible relation to the evolution of the genetic code

The interaction of amino acid residues with polyribonucleotides was characterized by measurements of melting temperatures (tm) for poly(A).poly(U) and poly(I).poly(C) as functions of the concentrations of various amino acid amides. The amides of hydrophilic amino acids lead to a continuous increase of tm with increasing concentration, whereas amides of hydrophobic amino acids induce a decrease of tm at low concentrations (approximately 1 mM) followed by an increase at higher concentrations. Analysis of the data by a simple site model provides the affinity of each ligand for the double helix relative to that for the single strands. This parameter decreases in the order Ala greater than Gly greater than Ser greater than Asn greater than Pro greater than Met, Val greater than Ile, Leu for poly(A).poly(U) and Ala, Gly, Ser greater than Asn greater than Pro greater than Val greater than Ile, Met, Leu for poly(I).poly(C). The special effects of hydrophobic amino acids may be related to the similarity of the codons for these amino acids. A simple model for assignment of codons to amino acids is proposed.     

Amino acid sequence of a protease inhibitor isolated from Sarcophaga bullata determined by mass spectrometry.

The amino acid sequence of a protease inhibitor isolated from the hemolymph of Sarcophaga bullata larvae was determined by tandem mass spectrometry. Homology considerations with respect to other protease inhibitors with known primary structures assisted in the choice of the procedure followed in the sequence determination and in the alignment of the various peptides obtained from specific chemical cleavage at cysteines and enzyme digests of the S. bullata protease inhibitor. The resulting sequence of 57 residues is as follows: Val Asp Lys Ser Ala Cys Leu Gln Pro Lys Glu Val Gly Pro Cys Arg Lys Ser Asp Phe Val Phe Phe Tyr Asn Ala Asp Thr Lys Ala Cys Glu Glu Phe Leu Tyr Gly Gly Cys Arg Gly Asn Asp Asn Arg Phe Asn Thr Lys Glu Glu Cys Glu Lys Leu Cys Leu.     

Identification of coding polymorphisms in human circadian rhythm genes PER1, PER2, PER3, CLOCK, ARNTL, CRY1, CRY2 and TIMELESS in a multi-ethnic screening panel.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: In this study, the exonic regions of the circadian rhythm genes PER1, PER2, PER3, CLOCK, ARNTL, CRY1, CRY2 and TIMELESS were re-sequenced and coding changes identified in a panel of 95 individuals varying in ethnicity. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: DNA screening panel consisting of 95 DNA samples (17 American Caucasians, 17 African Americans, 8 Ashkenazi Jews, 8 Chinese, 8 Japanese, 5 Mexican Indians, 8 Mexicans, 8 Northern Europeans, 8 Puerto Ricans, and 8 South Americans) selected from the Coriell Institute Human Variation Panel. RESULTS: In addition to coding changes already identified in the database dbSNP, novel coding changes were identified, including PER1: Pro37Ser, Pro351Ser, Gln988Pro, Ala998Thr; PER2: Leu83Arg, Leu157Leu, Thre174Ile, Phe400Phe, Pro822Pro, Ala828Thr, Ala861Val, Phe876Leu, Val883Met, Val903Ile, Ala923Pro; PER3: Pro67Pro, Val90Ile, His638His, Ala820Ala, Leu929Leu; ARNTL: Arg166Gln, Ser459Phe; CLOCK: Ala34Ala, Ser208Cys, Phe233Phe, Ser632Thr, Ser816Ser; TIMELESS: Met870Val and CRY2: His35His. No coding polymorphisms were identified in CRY1. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable genetic variation occurs within the coding region of the genes regulating circadian rhythm. Many of the non-synonymous coding polymorphisms could affect protein structure/function with the potential to affect molecular regulation of the sleep/wake cycle. Many of the potential functional effects could be ethnic group specific.     

Occurrence of a new corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide in salmon pituitary glands

A new corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP) has been identified in the pituitary of chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta. The newly isolated peptide is a tetracosa peptide, which is two residues longer than the predominant form, CLIP I, with the following amino acid sequence, H-ArgProIleLysValTyrAlaSerSerLeuGlu GlyGlyAspSerSerGluGlyThrPheProLeuGlnAlaOH. This peptide, named CLIP II is the fourth line of evidence in the teleost that the pituitary gland secretes two different forms of processed hormones, for which precursor molecules are coded on two separate genes. Together with the structures of α-melanotropin I and II, two putative ACTH molecules are proposed.     

Mutant subtilisin E with enhanced protease activity obtained by site-directed mutagenesis

The specific activity of subtilisin E, an alkaline serine protease of Bacillus subtilis, was substantially increased by optimizing the amino acid residue at position 31 (Ile in the wild-type enzyme) in the vicinity of the catalytic triad of the enzyme. Eight uncharged amino acids (Cys, Ser, Thr, Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, and Phe) were introduced at this site, which is next to catalytic Asp32, using site-directed mutagenesis. Mutant enzymes were expressed in Escherichia coli and were prepared from the periplasmic space. Only the Val and Leu substitutions gave active enzyme, and the Leu31 mutant was found to have a greatly increased activity compared to the wild-type enzyme. The other six mutant enzymes showed a marked decrease in activity. This result indicates that a branched-chain amino acid at position 31 is essential for the expression of subtilisin activity and that the level of the activity depends on side chain structure. The purified Leu31 mutant enzyme was analyzed with respect to substrate specificity, heat stability, and optimal temperature. It was found that the Leu31 replacement caused a prominent 2-6-fold increase in catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) due to a larger kcat for peptide substrates.     

Site-directed mutageneses of rat liver cytochrome P-450d: catalytic activities toward benzphetamine and 7-ethoxycoumarin

Catalytic activities toward benzphetamine and 7-ethoxycoumarin of 11 distal mutants, 9 proximal mutants, and 3 aromatic mutants of rat liver cytochrome P-450d were studied. A distal mutant Thr319Ala was not catalytically active toward benzphetamine, while this mutant retained activity toward 7-ethoxycoumarin. Distal mutants Gly316Glu, Thr319Ala, and Thr322Ala displayed higher activities (kcat/Km) toward 7-ethoxycoumarin that were 2.4-4.7-fold higher than that of the wild-type enzyme. Although kcat/Km values of four multiple distal mutants toward benzphetamine were less than half that of the wild type, activities of these mutants toward 7-ethoxycoumarin were almost the same as or higher than the wild-type activity toward this substrate. The distal double mutant Glu318Asp, Phe325Tyr showed 6-fold higher activity than the wild-type P-450d toward 7-ethoxycoumarin. Activities of the proximal mutants Lys453Glu and Arg455Gly toward both substrates were much lower (less than one-seventh) than the corresponding wild-type activities. Catalytic activities of three aromatic mutants, Phe425Leu, Pro427Leu, and Phe430Leu, toward benzphetamine were less than 7% of that of the wild type, while the activities of these aromatic mutants toward 7-ethoxycoumarin were more than 2.5 times higher than the wild-type activity toward this substrate. From these findings, in conjunction with a molecular model for P-450d, we suggest that (1) the relative importance to catalysis of various distal helix amino acids differs depending on the substrate and that these differences are associated with the size, shape, and flexibility of the substrate and (2) the proximal residue Lys453 appears to play a critical role in the catalytic activity of P-450d, perhaps by participating in forming an intermolecular electron-transfer complex.