Cleavage of bacterial flagellin with cyanogen bromide. Antigenic properties of the protein fragments

1. Four polypeptide fragments, obtained by cyanogen bromide treatment of the protein flagellin from Salmonella adelaide, were tested for their antigenic activity by using them as inhibitors in three different assays: bacterial immobilization, haemagglutination of sensitized erythrocytes and quantitative micro precipitation. Immunodiffusion studies were also performed on the protein fragments. 2. Cleavage of the flagellin molecule in this way gave no detectable loss of antigenic determinants. Fragment A (mol.wt. 18000), the largest of the polypeptides, contained all the antigenic specificities present on flagellin that were recognized by the antisera used. In one test, fragment B (mol.wt. 12000) also contained antigenic activity to an extent not easily explainable by contamination with fragment A. Fragments C (mol.wt. 5500) and D (mol.wt. 4500) appeared to be antigenically inactive.     

Amino acid sequence studies on cyanogen bromide peptides of chicken caldesmon which bind to calmodulin

Three major calmodulin-binding cyanogen bromide peptides (fragments A, B, and D) were isolated from chicken gizzard muscle caldesmon and their amino acid sequences were determined. The molecular masses of fragments A, B, and D were estimated to 16, 12, and 9 kDa, respectively, by SDS-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Fragment A was composed of 102 amino acid residues and contained homoserine at the C terminus. The amino acid sequence from the 37th residue of fragment A corresponds to the N-terminal sequence of the 15 kDa peptide which was obtained by thrombin digestion [Mornet, D., Audemard, E., & Derancourt, J. (1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 154, 564-571]. Thrombin 15 kDa peptide binds to F-actin but does not bind to calmodulin. Thus the N-terminal 36 residues and the C-terminal part from the 37th residue of fragment A are supposed to bind to calmodulin and F-actin, respectively. The sequences of fragments B and D were identical, but fragment D was composed of 64 amino acid residues and ended with tryptophan, whereas fragment B was of 98 or 99 amino acid residues and ended with proline. Both fragments B and D are supposed to be the C-terminal peptides of chicken caldesmon. Fragment B had heterogeneous sequences at the C-terminal region. These results can explain the reported heterogeneity of chicken caldesmon in charge and molecular mass.     

Amino acid sequence studies on the alpha chain of human fibrinogen. Covalent structure of the alpha-chain portion of fragment D.

The alpha-chain portion of fragment D has been purified from an exhaustive plasmic digest of human fibrinogen. The major polypeptide species has 91 amino acid residues, although a small amount of a 97-residue chain representing an earlier digestion stage remains. The amino acid sequence of the first 44 residues was determined by stepwise degradation with an automatic solid-phase sequencer. Another large stretch of sequence was revealed by the finding that the alpha chain of fragment D overlaps the cyanogen bromide fragments alphaCNIVA and alphaCNIII (Doolittle, R. F. Cassman, K. G., Cottrell, B. A., Friezner, S. J. Hucko, J. T., and Takagi, T. (1977), Biochemistry 16 (preceding paper in this issue)). The automatic sequencer results were confirmed and extended by the isolation and characterization of 18 of 19 expected tryptic peptides from the fragment D alpha chain. As a result, almost the entire sequence has been obtained. The overlap with key cyanogen bromide fragments has also allowed us to propose an order for the first 198 residues of the fibrinogen alpha chain. A striking homology with the gamma chain and beta chain is apparent which has interesting structural implications.     

Amino Acid Sequence of Cyanogen Bromide Fragment CB I from Ala Chain of Ricin D

The amino acid sequence of the cyanogen bromide (CNBr) fragment CB I from the Ala chain of ricin D, the largest of three CNBr fragments, was established by manual Edman degradation of the peptides obtained by tryptic, chymotryptic or peptic digestion of fragment CB I. The total number of amino acid residues of fragment CB I accounted for 140 (54%) out of 260 residues in the Ala chain of ricin D.     

The complete amino acid sequence of rabbit muscle phosphoglucomutase

The complete amino acid sequence of rabbit muscle phosphoglucomutase has been determined by isolating the 11 peptide fragments produced by the cyanogen bromide cleavage reaction and subjecting these to automated sequencing procedures. Products produced by treatment of some of these fragments with hydroxylamine, iodosobenzoic acid, mild acid, cyanogen bromide in formic and heptafluorobutyric acids, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, and trypsin (with or without blocking at lysine residues) were used to complete the sequence for each of the cyanogen bromide fragments. The cyanogen bromide fragments were ordered by isolating the four tryptic peptides produced by a limited tryptic digest of the native enzyme in the presence of its substrates and its bivalent metal ion activator, Mg2+, degrading these by means of trypsin, after blocking digestion at lysine residues, and isolating and identifying all fragments thus produced that contained 10 or more residues. The 561-residue sequence thus obtained is one of the longest that has been determined by chemical means. There is excellent agreement between this sequence and published compositions after appropriate normalization. The absorbance of the enzyme is about 7.0 at 278 nm for a 1% solution; this value is 9% lower than that previously used.     

Primary structure of cyanogen bromide fragments of sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) pituitary somatotropin]

5 fragments are isolated after the degradation of somatotropin from sei whale pituitary glands with cyanogen bromide: N-terminal 4-segmented; C-terminal 12-segmented with the internal disulfide bond; middle 25- and 30-segmented and a high molecular weight fragment following N-terminal tetrapeptide and bound with disulfide bond to 30-segmented fragment. Complete amino acid sequence of three shortest cyanogen bromide fragments is deciphered and N- and C-terminal sequence is investigated in two large fragments after their uncoupling under performic acid oxidation. Amino acid sequence is deciphered of a peptide obtained after trypsine hydrolysis of 30-segmented cyanogen bromide fragment. Comparison of amino acid sequence of whale somatotropin fragments with that of sheep, beef and human somatotropin has revealed that 57 out of 61 identified amino acid residues of whale somatotropin repeat amino acid residues in similar regions of beef somatotropin, 56--of sheep and only 42--of human somatotropins. Besdies, 4 of 5 revealed amino acid substitutions in whale hormone, as compared with sheep somatotropin, are amino acids which are present at the same positions in human hormone.     

Dihydrofolate reductase: the amino acid sequence of the enzyme from a methotrexate-resistant mutant of Escherichia coli.

The determination of the amino acid sequence of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate:NADP+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.5.1.3) from a mutant of Escherichia coli B is described. The 159 residues were positioned by automatic Edman degradation of the whole protein, of the reduced and alkylated cyanogen bromide fragments, and of selected tryptic, chymotryptic, and thermolytic digestion products. An N-bromosuccinimide produced fragment of the largest cyanogen bromide peptide was also used in the sequence determination.     

Primary structure of the elongation factor G from Escherichia coli. V. Amino acid sequence of the C-terminal domain

The amino acid sequence of the C-terminal domain of the elongation factor G (EF-G) has been studied. The polypeptide chain of the domain consists of 228 amino acid residues, and contains no tryptophan or cysteine residues. To determine its structure, the peptides obtained as a result of the fragment digestion by staphylococcal glutamic protease, cyanogen bromide cleavage, and tryptic hydrolysis of the fragment modified by maleic anhydride have been analyzed, as well as peptides obtained after hydrolyses of cyanogen bromide fragments with chymotrypsin, thermolysin and trypsin.     

The complete amino acid sequence of horse muscle acylphosphatase

The amino acid sequence of horse muscle acylphosphatase is given in the present paper. The carboxymethylated enzyme consists of a single polypeptide chain of 98 amino acid residues with an acetyl group blocking the NH2 terminus and a tyrosine at the COOH terminus. The calculated molecular weight of the native protein, a mixed disulfide with glutathione, is 11,365. The carboxymethylated protein was cleaved by cyanogen bromide. The three expected fragments were purified; moreover, an additional fragment, derived from a partial failure of cleavage at methionine-24, was purified and characterized. The structures of the cyanogen bromide fragments were established by subfragmentation with endopeptidases, and the sequences of the overlapping subfragments were determined. From the results, it was possible to order the peptides within the sequence and then to establish the complete primary structure of the enzyme.     

Primary structure of tyrosinase from Neurospora crassa. I. Purification and amino acid sequence of the cyanogen bromide fragments

Cyanogen bromide (CB) cleavage of Neurospora tyrosinase resulted in four major fragments, CB1 (222 residues), CB2 (82 residues), CB3 (68 residues), and CB4 (35 residues), and one minor overlap peptide CB2-4 (117 residues) due to incomplete cleavage of a methionylthreonyl bond. The sum of the amino acid residues of the four major fragments matches the total number of amino acid residues of the native protein. The amino acid sequences of the cyanogen bromide fragments CB2, CB3, and CB4 were determined by a combination of automated and manual sequence analysis on peptides derived by chemical and enzymatic cleavage of the intact and the maleylated derivatives. The peptides were the products of cleavage by mild acid hydrolysis, trypsin, pepsin, chymotrypsin, thermolysin, and Staphylococcus aureus protease V8. The cyanogen bromide fragment CB1 was found to contain two unusual amino acids whose chemical structure will be presented in the following paper.     

Covalent structure of protein A. A low molecular weight protein degraded during germination of Bacillus megaterium spores.

The complete covalent structure of Protein A, a protein degraded during bacterial spore germination, has been determined. The intact protein was cleaved with a highly specific spore protease into two peptides, residues 1 to 21 and 22 to 61. The larger peptide was further cleaved into two fragments with either cyanogen bromide or by trypsin cleavage following arginine modification with cyclohexanedione. The peptides derived from cyanogen bromide fragmentation encompassed residues 22 to 53 and 54 to 61 while trypsin hydrolysis yielded overlapping fragments comprising residues 22 to 48 and 49 to 61. Automated sequenator analysis together with carboxypeptidase Y digestion of the intact protein and the peptide fragments provided data from which the following unique amino acid sequence was deduced. NH2-Ala-Asn-Thr-Asn-Lys-Leu-Val-Ala-Pro-Gly10-Ser-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ile-Asp-Gln-Met-Lys-Tyr20-Glu-Ile-Ala-Ser-Glu-Phe-Gly-Val-Asn-Leu30-Gly-Pro-Glu-Ala-Thr-Ala-Arg-Ala-Asn-Gly40-Ser-Val-Gly-Gly-Glu-Ile-Thr-Lys-Arg-Leu50-Val-Gln-Met-Ala-Glu-Gln-Gln-Leu-Gly-Gly60-Lys-COOH.     

Synthesis of Penicillins and Cephalosporins by Penicillin Acylase Entrapped in Fibres

Tryptic peptides from two cyanogen bromide (CNBr) fragments CB II and CB III of the Ala chain of ricin D were sequenced by manual Edman degradation. Chymotryptic or peptic peptides from the two fragments were isolated by Dowex 1 x 2 column chromatography to obtain overlaps for the tryptic peptides, and the complete amino acid sequences of fragments CB II and III were established. The amino acid residues in fragments CB II and CB III accounted for 75 and 45 residues, respectively, of 260 residues in the Ala chain.

These sequences together with the sequence of fragment CBI described in the preceding paper established the complete sequence of the 260 amino acid residues in the Ala chain. Some structural characteristics of the protein are also discussed.     

The complete amino acid sequence of the Zn2+-containing D-alanyl-D-alanine-cleaving carboxypeptidase of streptomyces albus G

The 22076-Mr Zn2+-containing D-alanyl-D-alanine-cleaving carboxypeptidase of Streptomyces abuls G effectively catalyses the transfer of the N alpha, N epsilon-diacetyl-L-lysyl-D-alanyl electrophilic group of the standard tripeptide substrate N alpha, N epsilon-diacetyl-L-lysyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine to water. It also performs a weak beta-lactamase activity, hydrolysing penicillin into penicilloate at a very low rate. This protein consists of 212 amino acid residues in a single polypeptide chain. The N terminus is partially blocked as a result of the cyclization of the dipeptide Asn-Gly into anhydroaspartylglycine imide. The protein has been fragmented by cyanogen bromide into five fragments whose sequences have been determined via appropriate subcleavages with various proteases. The ordering of the cyanogen bromide peptide fragments has been carried out (a) by submitting the S-carboxymethylated protein to complete tryptic digestion and labelling the methionine-containing peptides thus obtained with iodo[14C]-acetamide, and (b) by submitting to limited tryptic digestion the S-[2-(4'-pyridyl)ethyl]-cysteine protein whose amino groups have been blocked by reaction with exo-cis-3,6-endoxo-delta 4-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride prior to digestion. The protein contains six cysteine residues in the form of three disulfide bridges. No homology is found by comparing this peptidase with other Zn2+-containing enzymes (carboxypeptidase A, thermolysin, carbonic anhydrase B and alcohol dehydrogenase) and several completely or partially sequenced, serine-containing D-alanyl-D-alanine-cleaving peptidases and Zn2+/serine-containing beta-lactamases.     

Primary structure of human fibrinogen and fibrin. Structural studies on NH2-terminal part of B beta chain.

The cyanogen bromide fragment, N-DSK, containing the NH2-terminal portions of the three chains of fibrinogen, was found to exist in dimeric and polymeric forms. These different forms gave rise to identical chain fragments on reduction and alkylation. The B beta chain of N-DSK from fibrinogen and the beta chain of N-DSK from fibrin were isolated and characterized. The B beta chain fragment has a blocked NH2-terminal residue, and fibrinopeptide B is released on digestion with thrombin. The beta chain fragment has glycine as NH2-terminal residue. The molecular weight of the B beta chain fragment is 12200 as determined by ultracentrifugal analysis. Gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate gave the molecular weights of 14000 and 13000 for the B beta chain and beta chain fragments, respectively. The NH2-terminal B beta chain fragment consists of 118 amino acid residues and the beta chain fragment of 104 residues. The amino acid sequence of beta chain fragment is identical to B beta chain fragment except for the fibrinopeptide B portion. The isolation of a B beta-related fragment (B beta +), with a molecular weight of 30000, is also reported. The presence of B beta + was explained on the basis of incomplete cleavage at the Met-118 residue during treatment with cyanogen bromide. Some functional aspects of the B beta chain fragment are discussed.     

Amino acid sequences of the human kidney cathepsins H and L

The complete amino acid sequences of human kidney cathepsin H (EC 3.4.22.16) and human kidney cathepsin L (EC 3.4.22.15) were determined. Cathepsin H contains 230 residues and has an Mr of 25116. The sequence was obtained by sequencing the light, heavy and mini chain and the peptides produced by cyanogen bromide cleavage of the single-chain form of the enzyme. The glycosylated mini chain is a proteolytic fragment of the propeptide of cathepsin H. Human cathepsin L has 217 amino acid residues and an Mr of 23720. Its amino acid sequence was deduced from N-terminal sequences of the heavy and light chains and from the sequences of cyanogen bromide fragments of the heavy chain. The fragments were aligned by comparison with known sequences of cathepsins H and L from other species. Cathepsins H and L exhibit a high degree of sequence homology to cathepsin B (EC 3.4.22.1) and other cysteine proteinases of the papain superfamily.     

A structural comparison of the A and B subunits of Griffonia simplicifolia I isolectins

A structural comparison between the A and B subunits of the five tetrameric Griffonia simplicifolia I isolectins (A4, A3B, A2B2, AB3, B4) was undertaken to determine the extent of homology between the subunits. The first 25 N-terminal amino acids of both A and B subunits were determined following the enzymatic removal of N-terminal pyroglutamate blocking groups with pyroglutamate aminopeptidase. Although 21 amino acids were common to both subunits, there were four unique amino acids in the N-terminal sequence of A and B. Residues 8, 9, 17, and 19 were asparagine, leucine, lysine, and asparagine in subunit A and threonine, phenylalanine, glutamic acid, and serine in subunit B. The last six C-terminal amino acids, released by digestion with carboxypeptidase Y, were the same for both subunits: Arg-(Phe, Val)-Leu-Thr-Ser-COOH. Subunit B, which contains one methionyl residue, was cleaved by cyanogen bromide into two fragments, a large (Mr = 31,000) and a small (Mr = 2700) polypeptide. Failure of the small fragment to undergo manual Edman degradation indicated an N-terminal blocking group, presumably pyroglutamate. Both subunits were digested with trypsin and the tryptic peptides were analyzed using reverse-phase HPLC. Tryptic glycopeptides were identified by labeling the carbohydrate moiety of the A and B subunit using sodium [3H] borohydride. Cysteine-containing tryptic peptides were similarly identified by using [1-14C]iodoacetamide. Approximately 30% of the tryptic peptides were common to both subunits. Thus, although the N- and C-terminal regions of A and B are similar, the subunits each possess unique sequences.     

Amino acid sequence of beta-galactosidase. IX. Sequence of the central segment, CNBr peptides 10 to 17, residues 378 to 653.

The amino acid sequence in the 8 cyanogen bromide peptides comprising the central segment of beta-galactosidase is presented. This portion of the molecule, about 27% of the protein, contains over 40% of the lysine and tyrosine residues and has a slight excess of basic amino acids.     

Primary structure of streptococcal proteinase. I Isolation, composition, and amino acid sequences of the tryptic and chymotryptic peptides of cyanogen bromide fragments 1 to 4.

Tryptic and chymotroptic peptides were isolated and characterized from cyanogen bromide fragments 1 to 4 of streptococcal proteinase and subjected to sequence analysis by the Edman degradation, carboxy-peptidase digestion, and hydrolytic regeneration of the amino acid residues from the phenylthiocarbamyl derivatives. The results, together with the sequence data of the cyanogen bromide fragment 5 reported in the accompanying papers, provide the structural formula of streptococcal proteinase.     

Primary structure of flavocytochrome b2 from baker's yeast. Purification by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography and sequencing of fragment alpha cyanogen bromide peptides

Reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography has been used for the purification of some large cyanogen bromide peptides from flavocytochrome b2 fragment alpha. Acetonitrile gradients at acid and/or neutral pH using mu Bondapak C18 columns were useful for the smaller peptides (43 and 67 residues). The two larger ones, alpha CB1 and alpha CB2, could only be separated from each other by trifluoroacetic acid/1-propanol gradients on mu Bondapak-CN columns. The various systems tested are presented and compared. The elucidation of the amino acid sequence of alpha CB2 (95 residues), alpha CB3 (67 residues) and alpha CB4 (43 residues) is described. The fragments were digested with trypsin, chymotrypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease as necessary. Fragment alpha CB2 was also cleaved at the unique tryptophanyl bond with cyanogen bromide. Peptides were fractionated by Sephadex chromatography, thin-layer finger-printing and/or high-pressure liquid chromatography. Peptides were sequenced mostly in the liquid phase sequenator. The cyanogen bromide peptides could be ordered using information obtained previously, as well as additional data obtained in this work. Together with the previous elucidation of cytochrome b2 core sequence and of the hinge region [Guiard, B. and Lederer, F. (1976) Biochimie (Paris) 58, 305--316; Ghrir, R. and Lederer, F. (1981) Eur. J. Biochem. 120, 279--287], the present results enable us to present the complete sequence of fragment alpha (314 residues) with only three overlaps missing between cyanogen bromide peptides. Sequence comparisons with other known flavoproteins do not indicate any noticeable similarity. Structural predictions indicate an alteration of alpha helices and beta structure. The possibility that the non-heme-binding portion of fragment alpha could constitute a flavin-binding domain is discussed.     

Isolation and Sequences of Peptic Peptides,and the Complete Sequence of Ile Chain of Ricin D

Sixteen peptic peptides, which contain arginine(s) or lysine, were isolated from cyanogen bromide fragments CB I and CB II of Ile-chain. Sequence determination has been performed on most of these peptides to provide overlaps for the tryptic peptides. Thus, complete amino acid sequence of Ile-chain consisting of 265 amino acid residues was determined. Some structural characteristics of the protein are also discussed.