木聚糖酶分子进化的研究进展

木聚糖的降解需要多种水解酶的协同作用,其中βD1,4内切木聚糖酶是最关键的水解酶之一。同一家族木聚糖酶氨基酸序列间有较高的同源性和较近的亲缘关系,这标准通常用于酶的家族归类。不同来源的同种木聚糖酶在相同位置上的氨基酸残基起源于共同祖先或者具有相似的生物学功能,而在进化过程中,对酶分子结构、催化起重要作用的氨基酸残基往往高度保守。综述了木聚糖酶分子进化的研究进展及其应用前景 。     

蛋白质序列的矩阵图谱表达

基于经典HP模型,利用蛋白质序列的矩阵图谱表达法(MGR)及数值刻画的思想提出了一种新的蛋白质序列的比对方法,通过观察蛋白质序列的数值刻画图及计算两蛋白质序列之间的欧氏距离d,对木聚糖酶两家族的蛋白质序列进行了相似性分析.发现被划分为同一木聚糖酶家族的蛋白质序列之间的相似性更大,而且蛋白质序列的相似性程度与分子大小、结构和分子进化相关.     

链霉菌zxy19木聚糖酶酶学性质及酶基因克隆

采用平板筛选法,从红树林放线菌中筛选到一株有较强木聚糖酶活的菌株zxy19,其16SrDNA序列与Streptomyces sampsonii的同源性仅为96%.该菌株木聚糖酶活为852.41 IU/mL,酶反应最适pH值为7,最适反应温度为60℃.用针对木聚糖酶基因保守结构域的一对简并引物扩增到该酶基因部分序列,进而通过反向PCR扩增到了完整的酶基因,对该基因序列分析结果表明此木聚糖酶基因属于糖基水解酶家族11的成员,酶蛋白氨基酸序列与已报道序列同源性最高为79%(Streptomyces lividans xylanase B).构建了该酶重组表达质粒pET-28a-xyl 696,经过IPTG诱导实现了该酶蛋白在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中的异源表达,且通过镍柱纯化后的表达产物具有生物学活性.     

蕙兰MADS基因APETALA1/FRUITFULL-like的克隆和时空表达特性

为研究兰花成花转变及花发育的调控机理,利用反转录RT-PCR和RACE的方法,从蕙兰萼片中克隆出一个APETALA1/FRUITFULL-like(AP1/FUL-like)基因,命名为CfAP11,GenBank登录号为JQ031272.1.该基因编码的氨基酸序列与MADS-box蛋白家族中类APl/FUL亚家族中球花石斛FRUITFULL-like具有较高的同源性(84％),系统进化分析表明该蛋白的氨基酸序列与APl/FUL转录因子亚家族中的蛋白聚为一类.生物信息学分析推测表明,该基因编码的蛋白具有MADS保守域和相对保守的K区,二级结构中α-螺旋所占比例较高(58.97％),三级结构与月季、水稻和水仙非常相似.相对荧光定量PCR分析结果表明:CfAPll在根中表达痕量,生殖期比营养期叶片中表达量低、盛花期比花蕾期花葶中表达量高,由此推测,CfAP11可能与蕙兰的成花诱导、花发育有关;并发现CfAP11在盛花期花葶和子房中表达量远高于其他组织,表明其可能以某种机制参与果实的形成过程.     

碱性木聚糖酶产生菌的筛选、XynG1-3基因克隆表达及酶学性质研究

从造纸厂周边碱性土壤中分离、筛选到一株产碱性木聚糖酶的细菌G1-3,根据形态和生理、生化特性并结合16SrDNA序列分析,鉴定菌株G1-3为短小芽孢杆菌,命名为Bacillus pumilus G1-3.利用克隆表达载体pET-22b(+),实现了Bacillus pumilus G1-3碱性木聚糖酶基因XynG1-3在E.coli BL21中的表达.经氨基酸序列分析,木聚糖酶XynGl-3属于GH11家族的小分子木聚糖酶.重组木聚糖酶XynG1-3经镍离子亲和层析一步纯化后,获得凝胶电泳条带单一的蛋白样品,经SDS-PAGE检测其分子量为24 kD.对酶学性质进行分析,重组酶XynG1-3最适作用温度为55℃,最适作用pH为8.0;该酶在60℃保温1h,残余酶活保持为原来的56％,pH作用范围较广,在pH10.0下保存1h,残余酶活仍能保持75％,为耐碱性木聚糖酶.     

牦牛与其他物种ZFX/ZFY基因片段间的进化关系

利用PCR扩增、克隆和序列分析法对牦牛ZFX/ZFY基因第11外显子部分片段进行了研究,并同来自于NCBI GenBank中人、猩猩、普通牛等9个物种的ZFX/ZFY基因核苷酸及其氨基酸序列进行了进化分析.结果表明,牦牛ZFX、ZFY基因间核苷酸序列同源性为94.1%,显示同一物种同源基因ZFX/ZFY间存在变异;比较的10个物种间ZFX基因核苷酸序列同源性为87.7%、ZFY基因为81.7%,相应ZFX、ZFY氨基酸同源性分别为96.6%、91.0%,ZFY基因的变异性大于ZFX基因,显示X染色体与Y染色体可能是独立进化.     

中国西藏小反刍兽疫病毒野生株China/Tib/Gej/07-30基质蛋白基因和融合蛋白基因的分子特征分析

对我国西藏小反刍兽疫病毒野生株China/Tib/Gej/07-30进行基质蛋白(M)和融合蛋白(F)基因序列测定,并进行分子生物学特征分析。首先应用逆转录聚合酶链式反应扩增出M和F基因片段,对聚合酶链式反应产物进行直接测序,然后对测定的核苷酸和推测的氨基酸序列进行比较分析。China/Tib/Gej/07-30的M基因由1483个核苷酸组成,编码335个氨基酸,与其他分离株核苷酸和氨基酸序列同源性分别为92.4%～97.7%和97.0%～98.2%。F基因由2411个核苷酸组成,编码546个氨基酸,与其他分离株核苷酸和氨基酸序列同源性分别为85.5%～96.1%和94.3%～98.2%。China/Tib/Gej/07-30的F蛋白含有信号肽序列和跨膜结构域,序列高度变异。F蛋白第104～108位和第109～133位氨基酸位点分别是高度保守的裂解位点和融合肽结构域。F蛋白还含有序列高度保守的三个七肽重复区。China/Tib/Gej/07-30的M基因3′端的非编码区(UTR)长度为443个核苷酸,GC含量高达68.4%,与其他PPRV毒株的同源性为82.4%～93.5%。China/Tib/Gej/07-30的F基因5′UTR区长度为634个核苷酸,GC含量高达70.0%,与其他PPRV毒株序列相似性为76.2%～91.7%。     

我国2009年新分离乙脑病毒全基因组序列特征研究

本研究对我国2009年新分离的两株乙脑病毒进行全基因组序列测定和分析,以了解病毒全基因组分子特征。通过RT-PCR和核苷酸序列测定方法获得病毒全基因组序列,采用ClustalX、DNASTAR、MEGA等生物学软件完成核苷酸序列及氨基酸序列分析和系统进化分析等。研究结果显示,新分离两株乙脑病毒YN0911和YN0967株基因组全长均为10 965个核苷酸,编码3 432个氨基酸。这2株乙脑病毒之间核苷酸同源性为98.7%,氨基酸同源性为99.8%。与国际乙脑病毒流行株相比,核苷酸同源性为83.5%～98.9%,氨基酸同源性为94.8%～99.7%。与乙脑病毒疫苗株SA14-14-2相比,在E蛋白有13个氨基酸差异位点,但都位于抗原关键位点之外。这2株病毒在3′UTR区域存在11nt缺失。基于C/PrM区段、E基因、全基因组系统进化分析结果均显示新分离2株乙脑病毒为G I乙脑病毒,并且和越南、四川、贵州、广西以往的分离株遗传进化关系较近。本研究提示我国新分离的2株乙脑病毒均为G I乙脑病毒,决定病毒毒力的关键氨基酸位点未见明显变化。     

耐热β-糖苷酶的基因克隆、表达和耐热性研究

从非解朊栖热菌HG10 2 (Thermusnonproteolyticus)染色体文库中 ,筛选得到耐热 β 糖苷酶 (Tn-gly)基因。该基因位于重组质粒 2.6kbHindⅢ插入片段上 ;并在E .coli中表达 ,酶比活力提高 17倍。经序列测定 ,该基因1311bp ,编码 436个氨基酸 ,前端与部分糖透性酶基因紧密相连 ,G+G含量为 71% ,有明显的RBS序列 ,启动子序列不明显。经序列同源性比较 ,其氨基酸序列属糖苷水解酶家族 1,有-N-E-P-和-T-E-N-保守序列 ,Glu16 4和Glu338推测是催化活性中心。其氨基酸组成中 ,疏水氨基酸含量较高 (Ala 12.8%、Leu 10.9% ) ,Arg(9.6% )、Glu(9.44 % )和Pro(8.0 % )含量显著较高。理论预测二级结构中 ,α 螺旋占 41.4% ,β-折叠占 16.2% ,β-转角占 14.4% ,并有大量的Pro位于β-转角的第二位。疏水作用、盐键、α-螺旋和Pro对Tn-gly的突出热稳定性有重要贡献。经系统进化树分析发现 ,β-糖苷酶在物种进化中比较保守。     

三个编码富含甘氨酸异构体的基因在棉花不同组织的差异表达

从棉花cDNA文库中分离了3个编码富含甘氨酸蛋白（glycine-rich proteins, GRPs）的基因,分别命名为GhGRP1、GhGRP2、GhGRP3.推断的编码蛋白质的氨基酸序列都富含甘氨酸,甘氨酸含量超过40%.而且GhGRP1和GhGRP2蛋白质序列同源性高达99%,仅在C末端有1个氨基酸残基（Arg/Pro）的差别.这3个蛋白在富含甘氨酸区相互显示较高的同源性,GhGRP1与GhGRP2达到100%,而GhGRP2与GhGRP3达到45.1%,但它们与基因数据库中其它蛋白质的同源性很低.根据结构域的组织特点,将GhGRP1和GhGRP2归为C端富含半胱氨酸结构域(C-cysteine-rich )类GRP,将GhGRP3归为N端有信号肽的GRP. GhGRP1和GhGRP2都含有12个GGX （此处X代表P/W/F）重复,GhGRP3含有22个GGX(此处X代表A/F/V/L/T/P)重复.此外,它们还含有不同数量GX, GGGX等的重复.实时RT-PCR分析表明,GhGRP1在花药中优势表达.GhGRP2在10 dpa(day post anthesis)胚珠中表达最强,10 dpa纤维和下胚轴次之,而在花药、根和花瓣中表达量相对较低.GhGRP3在花药,根和下胚轴中表达量较高,而在子叶,花瓣、纤维和胚珠中表达较低.上述结果表明, GhPRP基因家族的不同成员可能分别在棉花不同组织细胞的发育过程中发挥作用.     

Comparison of parameters estimated from A/Ci and A/Cc curve analysis

The parameters estimated from traditional A/C _i curve analysis are dependent upon some underlying assumptions that substomatal CO₂ concentration (C _i) equals the chloroplast CO₂ concentration (C _c) and the C _i value at which the A/C _i curve switches between Rubisco- and electron transport-limited portions of the curve (C _i-t) is set to a constant. However, the assumptions reduced the accuracy of parameter estimation significantly without taking the influence of C _i-t value and mesophyll conductance (g _m) on parameters into account. Based on the analysis of Larix gmelinii’s A/C _i curves, it showed the C _i-t value varied significantly, ranging from 24 Pa to 72 Pa and averaging 38 Pa. t-test demonstrated there were significant differences in parameters respectively estimated from A/C _i and A/C _c curve analysis (p<0.01). Compared with the maximum ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) carboxylation rate (V_cmax), the maximum electron transport rate (J_max) and J_max/V_cmax estimated from A/C _c curve analysis which considers the effects of g _m limit and simultaneously fits parameters with the whole A/C _c curve, mean V_cmax estimated from A/C _i curve analysis (V_cmax-C _i) was underestimated by 37.49%; mean Jmax estimated from A/C _i curve analysis (J_max-C _i) was overestimated by 17.8% and (J_max-C _i)/(V_cmax-C _i) was overestimated by 24.2%. However, there was a significant linear relationship between V_cmax estimated from A/C _i curve analysis and V_cmax estimated from A/C _c curve analysis, so was it J_max (p<0.05).     

Characterization of cytochrome P-450SCC-containing liposomes

Purified cytochrome $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria was incorporated into liposomes by the cholate-dilution method utilizing either dialysis or Sephadex gel filtration. Among synthetic phospholipids tested, dioleoylglycerophosphocholine showed the best stability during the incorporation of $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ into liposomes. A maximum amount of heme was incorporated into liposomes at a molar ratio of phospholipid to the cytochrome of approx. 200. When $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ was incorporated into the dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes by the cholate-filtration method, the $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}\text{-}\text{containing liposomes}$ showed two major populations on the elution pattern of the Sepharose 4B gel filtration, and were seen at a diameter of 200–600 Å and its aggregated forms. When the cytochrome was incorporated into dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes or cholesterol-free adrenocortical mitochondrial liposomes, $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ was less stable than $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ in aqueous solution. Cholesterol or adrenodoxin markedly stabilized the liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$. Liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ required cholesterol for its optimum reduction with adrenodoxin, adrenodoxin reductase, and NADPH in the presence of CO. About 70% of the total heme in the dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes was reduced by the enzymatic reduction in the presence of cholesterol, indicating that 70% of the total molecules are exposed to the surface of the outer monolayer. In order to see the location of the heme in membrane, the dioleoylglycerophosphocholine-liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ was subjected to $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid}$ treatment. This reagent destroyed the liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$. These results suggest that the heme is located in the proximity of the $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid}$ reacting sites which are exposed to the surface, or located on the vincinity of polar heads of the membrane.     

Occurrence of N-malonyl-D-alanine in pea seedlings

One of the ninhydrin-negative alanine conjugates isolated from pea seedlings was identified as $\text{N-}\text{malonyl}\text{-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{alanine}$.The identification of this conjugate was carried out by a comparison of its gas-liquid chromatographic and mass spectrometric properties, and its nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectra with those of synthetic $\text{N-}\text{malonyl}\text{-}\text{D}\text{-}\text{alanine}$. The alanine in the conjugate was shown to be present as the D-isomer by enzymatic and chromatographic analyses.     

The effects of multiple features of alternatively spliced exons on the KA/KSratio test

Background  

The evolution of alternatively spliced exons (ASEs) is of primary interest because these exons are suggested to be a major source of functional diversity of proteins. Many exon features have been suggested to affect the evolution of ASEs. However, previous studies have relied on the K _A /K _S ratio test without taking into consideration information sufficiency (i.e., exon length > 75 bp, cross-species divergence > 5%) of the studied exons, leading to potentially biased interpretations. Furthermore, which exon feature dominates the results of the K _A /K _S ratio test and whether multiple exon features have additive effects have remained unexplored.     

ATP/ADP exchange activity of gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase

The ATP/ADP exchange is shown to be a partial reaction of the $\text{(}\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ by the absence of measurable nucleoside diphosphokinase activity and the insensitivity of the reaction to $\text{P}{}^1$, $\text{P}{}^5$ -di(adenosine-5′) pentaphosphate, a myokinase inhibitor. The exchange demonstrates an absolute requirement for Mg²⁺ and is optimal at an ADP/ATP ratio of 2. The high ATP concentration ($\text{K}{}_{0.5}\text{= 116 μ}\text{M}$) required for maximal exchange is interpreted as evidence for the involvement of a low affinity form of nucleotide site. The ATP/ADP exchange is regarded as evidence for an ADP-sensitive form of the phosphoenzyme. In native enzyme, pre-steady state kinetics show that the formation of the phosphoenzyme is partially sensitive to ADP while modification of the enzyme by pretreatment with 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) in the absence of Mg²⁺ results in a steady-state phosphoenzyme population, a component of which is ADP sensitive. The ATP/ADP exchange reaction can be either stimulated or inhibited by the presence of K⁺ as a function of pH and Mg²⁺.     

Comparative study of Bifidobacteriumanimalis, Escherichiacoli, Lactobacilluscasei and Saccharomycesboulardii probiotic properties

The present work investigates some probiotic properties of four different microorganisms (Bifidobacterium animalis var. lactis BB-12, Escherichia coli EMO, Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces boulardii). In vitro and in vivo tests were carried out to compare cell wall hydrophobicity, production of antagonistic substances, survival capacity in the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice without pathological consequence, and immune modulation by stimulation of Küpffer cells, intestinal sIgA and IL-10 levels. In vitro antagonism against pathogenic bacteria and yeast was only observed for the probiotic bacteria B. animalis and L. casei. The hydrophobic property of the cell wall was higher for B. animalis and E. coli EMO, and this property could be responsible for a better ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract of germ-free mice. Higher levels of sIgA were observed mainly for S. boulardii, followed by E. coli EMO and B. animalis, and only S. boulardii induced a significant higher level of IL-10. In conclusion, for a probiotic use, S. boulardii presented better characteristics in terms of immunomodulation, and B. animalis and L. casei for antagonistic substance production. The knowledge of the different probiotic properties could be used to choice the better microorganism depending on the therapeutic or prophylactic application.     

Dermal cysts participate in reparative regeneration of epidermis in Hrhr/Hrhr mice

One of the phenotypic effects of mutation in the Hr gene in mice is disintegration of hair follicles and their degeneration into open funnel-shaped structures (utricles) opened on skin surface and cysts located in the depth of the dermis. The aim of the current study consists in analysis of the process of reparative regeneration of skin in homozygotous mice with one of the mutant alleles of the Hr gene—Hr ^hr . It is shown that epithelial cells that constitute the inner pavement of cysts take part in the process of epithelization of deep skin wounds. This indicates that the competence of ectodermal cells in relation to inductive signals from injured skin remains in Hr ^hr homozygote mice, in spite of the significant anatomic abnormalities of the hair follicles.     

Two-Electron Reactions S2QB → S0QB and S3QB → S1QB are Involved in Deactivation of Higher S States of the Oxygen-Evolving Complex of Photosystem II

The oxygen-evolving complex of Photosystem II cycles through five oxidation states (S₀-S₄), and dark incubation leads to 25% S₀ and 75% S₁. This distribution cannot be reached with charge recombination reactions between the higher S states and the electron acceptor Q_B⁻. We measured flash-induced oxygen evolution to understand how S₃ and S₂ are converted to lower S states when the electron required to reduce the manganese cluster does not come from Q_B⁻. Thylakoid samples preconditioned to make the concentration of the S₁ state 100% and to oxidize tyrosine Y_D were illuminated by one or two laser preflashes, and flash-induced oxygen evolution sequences were recorded at various time intervals after the preflashes. The distribution of the S states was calculated from the flash-induced oxygen evolution pattern using an extended Kok model. The results suggest that S₂ and S₃ are converted to lower S states via recombination from S₂Q_B⁻ and S₃Q_B⁻ and by a slow change of the state of oxygen-evolving complex from S₃ and S₂ to S₁ and S₀ in reactions with unspecified electron donors. The slow pathway appears to contain two-electron routes, S₂Q_B → S₀Q_B, and S₃Q_B → S₁Q_B. The two-electron reactions dominate in intact thylakoid preparations in the absence of chemical additives. The two-electron reaction was replaced by a one-electron-per-step pathway, S₃Q_B → S₂Q_B → S₁Q_B in PS II-enriched membrane fragments and in thylakoids measured in the presence of artificial electron acceptors. A catalase effect suggested that H₂O₂ acts as an electron donor for the reaction S₂Q_B → S₀Q_B but added H₂O₂ did not enhance this reaction.     

Ligand-dependent reactivity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with showdomycin

Showdomycin inhibited pig brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ with pseudo first-order kinetics. The rate of inhibition by showdomycin was examined in the presence of 16 combinations of four ligands, i.e., Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and ATP, and was found to depend on the ligands added. Combinations of ligands were divided into five groups in terms of the magnitude of the rate constant; in the order of decreasing rate constants these were: (1)$\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$, (2) $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$, $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$, $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and none, (3) $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{,}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$, $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$, (4) $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}\text{,}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$ and $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}\text{, (5)}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$, $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$, $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$, $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{ATP}$ and ATP. The highest rate was obtained in the presence of Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and ATP. The apparent concentrations of Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and ATP for half-maximum stimulation of inhibition ($\text{K}{}_{0.5}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$) were 3 mM, 0.13 mM and 4μM, respectively. The rate was unchanged upon further increase in Na⁺ concentration from 140 to 1000 mM. The rates of inhibition could be explained on the basis of the enzyme forms present, including E₁, E₂, ES, E₁-P and E₂-P, i.e., E₂ has higher reactivity with showdomycin than E₁, while E₂-P has almost the same reactivity as E₁-P. We conclude that the reaction of ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ proceeds via at least four kinds of enzyme form (E₁, E₂, E₁ · nucleotide and EP), which all have different conformations.     

Characterization of partially purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from porcine lens

The partial purification of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ from pig lens has been achieved by treatment with deoxycholate followed by density gradient centrifugation. The specific activity of the final preparation, ranging from 300 to 500 nmol/h per mg protein, is increased approx. 100-fold compared to the homogenate. A parallel increase in $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity is also observed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis reveals six major protein bands, one of which is the 93 kDa α subunit of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ which can be phosphorylated by reaction with [γ-³²P]ATP. A second band contains a glycoprotein which displays an apparent molecular weight of 51 000 and thus appears to be the β subunit of the enzyme. The enzyme is sensitive to ouabain with the $\text{I}{}_{50}$ for $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ inhibition being 1.2 and 1.3 μM, respectively. Several agents which inhibit $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ from other tissues such as oligomycin, Ca²⁺, vanadate, $\text{N-}\text{ethylmaleimide}$, $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid}$ (PCMBS) and 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) also inhibit the lens enzyme. Monovalent cations other than K⁺ are partially effective in activating the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$)-ATPase and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activities. The K⁺ congeners were relatively more effective in supporting $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ compared to $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity. Other kinetic properties of the lens enzyme are also comparable to those of the enzyme from other tissues. Utilizing the partially purified membrane bound enzyme, discontinuities in Arrhenius plots of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ activity, $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity and fluoresence polarization of the fluidity probe, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), are observed near the physiological temperature of lens. The possible significance of these observations for the mechanism of cataract formation are discussed.