A metabolite of acetaminophen covalently binds to the 56 kDa selenium binding protein.

Acetaminophen is metabolized by cytochrome P450 to a reactive metabolite that covalently binds to proteins and this binding correlates with the hepatotoxicity. The major protein adduct was previously reported to be a 55 kDa protein that was detected on Western blots using antisera specific for 3-(cystein-S-yl)acetaminophen. In this study, the 55 kDa protein was isolated using a combination of ion exchange fast flow chromatography, hydroxyapatite HPLC and anion exchange HPLC. Amino acid sequences of 8 internal peptides from a trypsin digestion of the 55 kDa protein were found to have 97% homology with the deduced amino acid sequence from a cDNA that corresponds to a 56 kDa selenium binding protein. This is the first report of a specific protein to which a metabolite of acetaminophen covalently binds.     

Purification and characterization of hen oviduct microsomal signal peptidase

Hen oviduct signal peptidase requires only two proteins for proteolysis of fully synthesized secretory precursor proteins in vitro: one with a molecular mass of 19 kilodaltons (kDa) and one which is a glycoprotein whose mass varies from 22 to 24 kDa depending on the extent of glycosylation. Purified signal peptidase has been analyzed both as part of an active catalytic unit and after electroelution of the individual proteins out of a preparative polyacrylamide gel. The multiple forms of the glycoprotein component of signal peptidase bind to concanavalin A and are shown to be derived from the same polypeptide backbone. Removal of their oligosaccharides by digestion with N-glycanase converts these proteins to a single 19.5-kDa polypeptide. The glycoproteins all exhibit very similar profiles following individual digestion with trypsin and separation of the resulting peptides by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, sequence analysis of selected peptides from corresponding regions in chromatograms representing each form of the glycoprotein reveals the same amino acid sequences. The 19-kDa signal peptidase protein does not bind concanavalin A, has a distinct tryptic peptide map from that of the glycoprotein, and appears to share no amino acid sequences in common with the glycoprotein. Its copurification on a concanavalin A-Sepharose column indicates that it must interact directly with the glycoprotein subunit.     

Amino acid sequences around the cysteine residue of calf lens α-crystallin

1. Calf lens alpha-crystallin was carboxymethylated with radioactive sodium iodoacetate to label the thiol group. 2. The protein was then digested with trypsin or alternatively fractionated in urea to obtain the acidic (A) chains, which were then digested with trypsin. Either procedure gave two radioactive peptides containing carboxymethylcysteine. 3. These two peptides were closely related: the longer form contained 28 amino acid residues, and the shorter lacked two residues at the N-terminal end of the longer form. 4. The amino acid sequence of the peptides have been determined. 5. No evidence for the presence of more than one cysteine residue/chain was found. 6. The question of the molecular weight of the chains is discussed.     

Sequence of the halobacterial glycosaminoglycan

The cell-surface glycoprotein of halobacterium contains a sulfated repeating unit saccharide chain, similar to the mammalian glycosaminoglycans. The composition of a presumptive repeating pentasaccharide unit of this glycosaminoglycan is 1 GlcNAc, 1 GalNAc, 1 Gal, 1 GalA (where GalA represents galacturonic acid), 1 3-O-methyl-GalA, and 2 SO42-. Linkage to protein of this glycoconjugate involves the hitherto unique unit Asn-GalNAc, with the N-linked asparagine residue being the second NH2-terminal amino acid and part of the common N-linked glycosyl acceptor sequence Asn-X-Thr(Ser). Transfer of the completed, sulfated glycosaminoglycan from its lipid precursor to the protein occurs at the cell surface, and the presence of this sulfated saccharide chain in the cell-surface glycoprotein seems to be required to maintain the structural integrity of the rod-shaped halobacteria. In this paper, we report the complete saccharide structure of this N-linked glycosaminoglycan. This structure is deduced from chemical analyses of fragments that were isolated after hydrazinolysis and subsequent nitrous acid deamination or after mild acidic hydrolysis of purified Pronase-derived glycosaminoglycan-peptides. The halobacterial glycosaminoglycan consists, on the average, of 10 repeating pentasaccharide units of the following structure. (formula: see text) The reducing end N-acetylgalactosamine residue is linked directly to the asparagine, without a special saccharide linker region.     

Identification of the serine residue phosphorylated by protein kinase C in vertebrate nonmuscle myosin heavy chains

Two-dimensional mapping of the tryptic phosphopeptides generated following in vitro protein kinase C phosphorylation of the myosin heavy chain isolated from human platelets and chicken intestinal epithelial cells shows a single radioactive peptide. These peptides were found to comigrate, suggesting that they were identical, and amino acid sequence analysis of the human platelet tryptic peptide yielded the sequence -Glu-Val-Ser-Ser(PO4)-Leu-Lys-. Inspection of the amino acid sequence for the chicken intestinal epithelial cell myosin heavy chain (196 kDa) derived from cDNA cloning showed that this peptide was identical with a tryptic peptide present near the carboxyl terminal of the predicted alpha-helix of the myosin rod. Although other vertebrate nonmuscle myosin heavy chains retain neighboring amino acid sequences as well as the serine residue phosphorylated by protein kinase C, this residue is notably absent in all vertebrate smooth muscle myosin heavy chains (both 204 and 200 kDa) sequenced to date.     

Isolation and partial characterization of the heterophile antigen of infectious mononucleosis from bovine erythrocytes

The heterophile antigen (Paul-Bunnell antigen, PBA) of infectious mononucleosis was isolated by extraction of an aqueous suspension of bovine erythrocyte stromata with chloroform-methanol (2:1). The upper aqueous layer contained gangliosides, PBA, and a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein. PBA and gangliosides were separated from the high-molecular-weight glycoprotein by extraction of lyophilized upper layer with chloroform-methanol solvents. Separation of PBA from gangliosides was carried out by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose with chloroform-methanol solvents. PBA appeared to be a minor glycoprotein component of the erythrocyte membrane and had both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. It was soluble in either organic or aqueous solvents. On SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, it migrated as a single component that stained for protein with Coomassie blue, for carbohydrate with periodic acid-Schiff reagent, and for lipid with oil red 0; it had an apparent molecular weight of 26,000. It was composed of 62% protein with major amino acids: glutamic acid, proline, glycine, isoleucine, leucine, and threonine (158, 116, 98, 90, 85, and 82 residues per 1,000 residues, respectively). Carbohydrate content was 9.2% with major sugar constituents: sialic acid, galactosamine, and galactose. Serologic activity of PBA was destroyed by pronase but not by trypsin.     

Isolation and characterization of a 29-kDa glycoprotein with antifungal activity from bulbs of Urginea indica

In this study an antifungal protein from Urginea indica bulbs was purified to homogeneity by acid precipitation, Diol 300 Gel-filtration, and C(18) reverse phase HPLC. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 29 kDa and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining showed that identified antifungal molecule is a glycoprotein. The neutralization of antifungal activity after periodate oxidation of 29 kDa glycoprotein suggests that the glycan part of the molecule appears to be involved in antifungal activity. N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified protein was determined as SQLKAXIXDF. This sequence had no sequence similarity with any antifungal proteins. A polyclonal antiserum was raised against purified protein and used in immunolocalization analysis. Results suggest that it is localized to the cell wall of the bulb. Antifungal tests have demonstrated that U. indica protein exerts a fungistatic effect. It completely inhibits the germination of spores and hyphal growth of Fusarium oxysporum.     

Effect of trypsin on mouse mammary tumor virus.

Undisrupted mouse mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) derived from the milk of of RIII mice has been analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy after treatment with insolubilized trypsin. No alterations were found in viral fine structure by either freeze-etch or negative-stain electron microscopy. No alterations were found in the ability of trypsinized virus to compete in a radioimmune assay for viral antigens. Infectivity experiments indicate no significant differences in the ability of treated virus to infect C57Bl mice. However, significant differences were observed in polypeptide composition. The intensely periodic acid-Schiff-positive band, gp140, was shown by galactose oxidase-borotritide labeling to be degraded into a fragment of 125,000 molecular weight. The major glycoprotein, gp55, was split into fragments of 36,000 and 23,000 molecular weight, both of which stained with periodic acid-Schiff stain. Gp68 was removed from the virus. Experiments with purified, iodinated gp55 showed that the trypsin-induced fragments of gp55 were immunologically active. We conclude that: (i) certain glycoproteins at the surface of MuMTV are accessible to an insoluble form of trypsin, (ii) the trypsin causes a nick in the polypeptide chain without affecting the configuration of the molecule; (iii) the nicked molecules remain bound to the virus; and (iv) the presence of these nicked molecules does not interfere with the biological or antigenic expression of virus function.     

The amino acid sequence around the active-site cysteine and histidine residues, and the buried cysteine residues in ficin

Ficin that had been prepared from the latex of Ficus glabrata by salt fractionation and chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose was completely and irreversibly inhibited with 1,3-dibromo[2-(14)C]acetone and then treated with N-(4-dimethylamino-3,5-dinitrophenyl)maleimide in 6m-guanidinium chloride. After reduction and carboxymethylation of the labelled protein, it was digested with trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin. Two radioactive peptides and two coloured peptides were isolated chromatographically and their sequences determined. The radioactive peptides revealed the amino acid sequences around the active-site cysteine and histidine residues and showed a high degree of homology with the omino acid sequence around the active-site cysteine and histidine residues in papain. The coloured peptides allowed the amino acid sequence around the buried cysteine residue in ficin to be determined.     

Preparation and chemical characterisation of calf Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein.

Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein preparations were obtained from calf urine by 1.0 M NaCl precipitation followed by 4 M urea/Sepharose 4B chromatography. By using 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis a molecular weight of 86 500 +/- 4500 (n = 12) was calculated for the glycoprotein. Amino acid and carbohydrate analyses were performed, the carbohydrate composition being (in residues per 100 amino acid residues in the glycoprotein): fucose, 0.90; galactose, 4.82; mannose, 4.63;N-acetylglucosamine, 7.36; N-acetylgalactosamine, 1.38; sialic acid, 2.93. Under conditions of mild acid hydrolysis (0.05 M H2SO4, 80 degrees C, 1 h) the calf Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein preparations were degraded partially into two lower molecular weight fragments (approximate Mr 66 000 and 51 000), as shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both fragments being periodic acid-Schiff reagent positive.     

Penicillin-binding proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae: characterization of tryptic peptides containing the beta-lactam-binding site

Penicillin-binding proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae were labeled with [3H] propionyl-ampicillin and treated with trypsin. The fragments were separated on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels, and peptides containing the beta-lactam-binding site visualized by fluorography. From native penicillin-binding proteins (PBP), either membrane-bound or solubilized with Triton X-100, relatively stable end products of proteolysis were obtained. The smallest radioactive peptides from PBP 1a (92 kDa), PBP 2b (77 kDa), and PBP 3 (43 kDa ) had sizes of 36.5 kDa, 26 kDa, and 29 kDa, respectively. When the PBP were trypsin treated prior to labeling with the radioactive beta-lactam, these small peptides were still able to bind the antibiotic. Under conditions of limited proteolysis, membrane-bound PBP 2b and PBP 3 were converted into soluble, hydrophilic derivatives after loss of a peptide of only 2 kDa and 1.5 kDa, respectively. These two PBP are therefore anchored in the membrane by a small terminal peptide. In contrast, PBP 1a could be digested to a Mr of 48000 without becoming water-soluble; the only hydrophilic tryptic peptide that could be found was the 36.5 kDa fragment. Therefore, large domains of this PBP seem to be embedded in the membrane.     

Isolation of glycopeptides containing individual glycosylation sites of Friend murine leukemia virus glycoprotein: studies of glycosylation by methylation analysis

Glycopeptides containing individual N-glycosylation sites of the glycoprotein from Friend murine leukemia virus were isolated by digestion of the viral glycoprotein with protease of S. aureus (V8) or with trypsin followed by fractionation of the resulting (glyco)peptides by gel filtration and reversed-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography at pH 6. Isolated glycopeptides were assigned to the known amino acid sequence of the protein by amino acid analysis and by determination of the NH2-termini. The carbohydrate moieties of each glycosylation site were analysed by methylation analysis. A high selectivity of the glycoprotein glycosylation was found with regard to the distribution of oligomannosidic, mixed, and N-acetyl-lactosaminic oligosaccharides.     

Characterization of a trypsin inhibitor from equine urine.

A trypsin inhibitor was isolated from pregnant mares' urine by adsorption on bentonite and elution with aqueous pyridine followed by batch DEAE-cellulose treatment and column chromatography. Final purification to an electrophoretically homogenous glycoprotein was achieved by gel permeation chromatography. This equine urinary trypsin inhibitor (E-UTI) is acid- and heat-stable, has a molecular weight of 22 to 23 kDa, an isoelectric point of 4.55, forms a 1:1 molar complex with trypsin and has serine as its N-terminal amino acid. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of this protein is almost identical with that of EI-14, the inhibitor obtained from horse serum by tryptic treatment, except for two extra amino acid residues, Ser-Lys- on the N-terminal end of E-UTI. In its isoelectric point E-UTI differs from EI-14 and the inhibitor from human urine.     

Identification of a myofibril-bound serine proteinase (MBSP) in the skeletal muscle of lizard fish Saurida wanieso which specifically cleaves the arginine site

A myofibril-bound serine proteinase (MBSP) from the skeletal muscle of lizard fish (Saurida wanieso) was purified to homogeneity by a heating treatment followed by a series of column chromatographies on DEAE-Sephacel, Sephacryl S-200, Q-Sepharose, Hydroxyapatite and Benzamidine-Sepharose 6B, and characterized enzymatically. On SDS-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), the purified enzyme showed a band with molecular mass of approximately 29 kDa under reducing conditions, while 60 kDa under non-reducing conditions. The optimum temperature of the enzyme was 50 degrees C using t-butyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Ser-Arg-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (Boc-Phe-Ser-Arg-MCA) as a substrate. Substrate specificity analysis both using MCA-substrates and peptides showed that MBSP specifically cleaved at the carboxyl side of the arginine residue. Inhibitor susceptibility analysis revealed that MBSP was inhibited effectively by Pefabloc SC, soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI) and aprotinin, indicating the characteristic of a serine proteinase. When myofibril was incubated with the enzyme, it optically degraded myosin heavy chain at 55-60 degrees C, while alpha-actinin and actin were not at all hydrolyzed as detected by immunoblotting. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of MBSP was partially determined as IVGGAEXVPY- and was very homologous to other serine proteases.     

The amino acid sequence around the active-site cysteine and histidine residues of stem bromelain

Stem bromelain that had been irreversibly inhibited with 1,3-dibromo[2-(14)C]-acetone was reduced with sodium borohydride and carboxymethylated with iodoacetic acid. After digestion with trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin three radioactive peptides were isolated chromatographically. The amino acid sequences around the cross-linked cysteine and histidine residues were determined and showed a high degree of homology with those around the active-site cysteine and histidine residues of papain and ficin.     

Molecular Characterisation and Structural Relationship of the Synapse-Enriched Glycoproteins gp65 and gp55

gp65 and gp55 are glycoprotein components of CNS synapses that are recognised by a single monoclonal antibody, SMgp65. This antibody has now been used to investigate the molecular properties of these two glycoproteins and the structural relationship between them. Both gp65 and gp55 occur in most brain regions as doublets of apparent molecular masses of 63 and 67 kDa, and 52 and 57 kDa, respectively. Striatal samples, however, are enriched in a novel gp65 isoform of 69 kDa. Removal of oligosaccharide residues from gp65 and gp55 with trifluoromethanesulphonic acid shows that gp65 and gp55 are composed of single polypeptide chains of 40 and 28 kDa, respectively. Removal of sialic acid residues with neuraminidase lowers the apparent molecular mass of both glycoproteins by 5-6 kDa. Triton X-114 phase partitioning and alkaline extraction of synaptic membranes indicate that both gp65 and gp55 are integral membrane glycoproteins. Treatment of synaptic membranes with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C does not solubilise either glycoprotein. One-dimensional peptide and epitope maps obtained by digestion of gp65 and gp55 with endoproteinase lys C or subtilisin are consistent with a close structural relationship between the two molecules. Tryptic digestion of samples enriched in gp65 and/or gp55 results in the formation of a novel immunoreactive 53-kDa species that is resistant to further trypsin degradation except in the presence of 0.1% (wt/vol) sodium dodecyl sulphate. Trypsin treatment of cultures of forebrain neurones in situ lowers the apparent molecular mass of gp65 to 53 kDa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A tryptic peptide containing a unique serine phosphate residue in rabbit phosphoglucomutase

³²P-labelled phosphoglucomutase was digested with trypsin after denaturation and two peptides were isolated that contained the bulk of the radioactivity bound to peptides. Both peptides appeared to derive from an identical section of the molecule. Peptic and subtilisin digests of the tryptic peptides were prepared. The resulting radioactive peptides were purified and their sequences studied. The presence of a single serine [³²P]phosphate residue was clearly established. Difficulties in purification and low yields, especially of the tryptic peptide, prevented exhaustive sequence studies, but a tentative sequence is proposed as:Ala-Ile-Gly-Gly-Ile-Ile-Leu-Thr-Ala-SerP-His-Asx-Pro-Gly-Gly-Pro-(Asx₂,Gly)-Phe-Gly-Ile-Lys(where SerP represents serine phosphate and Asx represents aspartic acid or asparagine). The results do not support the presence of two serine phosphate residues in the denatured enzyme, but confirm previous results of a unique sequence around a single serine phosphate residue.     

The location of the active-site histidine residue in the primary sequence of papain

Papain that had been irreversibly inhibited with 1,3-dibromo[2-(14)C]acetone was reduced with sodium borohydride and carboxymethylated with iodoacetic acid. After digestion with trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin the radioactive peptides were purified chromatographically. Their amino acid composition indicated that cysteine-25 and histidine-106 were cross-linked. Since cysteine-25 is known to be the active-site cysteine residue, histidine-106 must be the active-site histidine residue.     

The site of linkage of a retinoid affinity label to plasma retinol-binding protein

The retinoid affinity label 11[³H]--ionylidene ethylbromoacetate (IEBA) was covalently bound to plasma retinol-binding protein (RBP) and studies were conducted to identify the region of the protein molecule that contained the linkage between the IEBA ligand and RBP. Cleavage by trypsin and cyanogen bromide of the labeled protein followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation of peptides and identification of radioactive peaks by amino acid analysis points to attachment of the ligand on tryptic peptides T(1+2) (containing residues 1–5) and T(21) (residues 156–163). These two peptides in the native protein molecule are connected by a disulfide bond between Cys-4 and Cys-160. To confirm the site of attachment of the radioactive ligand, unreduced IEBA-RBP with the disulfide bonds intact was treated first with cyanogen bromide and then with trypsin. Separation of the tryptic peptides by HPLC yielded one main peak of radioactivity containing both peptides T(1+2) and T(21), presumably connected by a disulfide bond. Taken together, these results indicated that the sites of attachment of IEBA to RBP are located within the region of the RBP molecule close to the Cys-4–Cys-160 bond, and specifically within the region comprised of amino acid residues 1–5 and 156–163.     

Isolation and Some Properties of Acid Phosphatase-11 from Tomato Leaves

An isozyme of acid phosphatase-1, acid phosphatase-1¹, was purified from the leaves of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) to homogeneity and characterized. The purified enzyme was homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with or without sodium dodecyl sulfate. The gel filtration analysis showed that the native molecule had a relative molecular mass of about 61 kilodaltons (kDa). The relative molecular mass of the subunit on gel electrophoresis with sodium dodecyl sulfate was about 32 kDa, indicating that the native form of the enzyme was a homodimer. It was suggested by periodic acid-Schiff staining on the gel that the enzyme was a glycoprotein. The Km for p-nitrophenylphosphate was 2.9 × 10^?3 m. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 4.5 in 0.15 m potassium acetate buffer with p-nitrophenylphosphate as a substrate. This enzyme was activated by divalent metal ions, such as Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Mn²⁺. The N-terminal amino acids were sequenced after the purified enzyme was treated with pyroglutamylpeptidase. It was suggested that the N-terminal amino acid was pyroglutamate.