Analysis of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase(s) by radioimmunoassay

A high-affinity form of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, purified to apparent homogeneity from dog kidney, was labeled with ¹²⁵I using a solid-state lactoperoxidaseglucose oxidase system and its purity confirmed by acrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. Sheep anti-cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase immunoglobulin fraction was analyzed for ¹²⁵I-enzyme binding and covalently bound to agarose A 1.5m for isotopically labeled antigen displacement. Anti-phosphodiesterase antiserum was purified by Sepharose 4B-cAPDE affinity chromatography and used for a radioimmunoassay employing second-antibody precipitation. The specificity of the anti-cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase antibody was established by its use as a covalently bound affinity ligand for cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase purification and analysis of sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel extracts of partially purified and purified dog kidney supernatants. Radioimmunoassay using a monospecific antibody preparation demonstrated the similarity of high-affinity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase forms of different tissues and species that had been separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Various purified preparations of calmodulin, as well as brain calcineurin, did not cross-react in the high-affinity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase radioimmunoassay. However, higher molecular weight cyclic GMP/lower affinity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase enzyme forms, partially purified by anion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and Cibacron blue adsorption, were shown to cross-react in the high-affinity cAMP phosphodiesterase radioimmunoassay. These studies suggest immunological similarities between the major forms of this enzyme system and the possibility of higher molecular weight complexes containing both cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP hydrolytic sites.     

Effects of fatty acids on activity of cGMP-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from calf liver

Effects of fatty acids, prostaglandins, and phospholipids on the activity of purified cGMP-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from calf liver were investigated. Prostaglandins A2, E1, E2, F1 alpha, and F2 alpha, thromboxane B2, and most phospholipids were without effect; lysophosphatidylcholine was a potent inhibitor. Several saturated fatty acids (carbon chain length 14-24), at concentrations up to 1 mM, had little or no effect on hydrolysis of 0.5 microM [3H]cGMP or 0.5 microM [3H]cAMP with or without 1 microM cGMP. In general, unsaturated fatty acids were inhibitory, except for myristoleic and palmitoleic acids which increased hydrolysis of 0.5 microM [3H]cAMP. The extent of inhibition by cis-isomers correlated with the number of double bonds. Increasing concentrations of palmitoleic acid from 10 to 100 microM increased hydrolysis of [3H]cAMP with maximal activation (60%) at 100 microM; higher concentrations were inhibitory. Palmitoleic acid inhibited cGMP hydrolysis and cGMP-stimulated cAMP hydrolysis with IC50 values of 110 and 75 microM, respectively. Inhibitory effects of palmitoleic acid were completely or partially prevented by equimolar alpha-tocopherol. Palmitelaidic acid, the trans isomer, had only slightly inhibitory effects. The effects of palmitoleic acid (100 microM) were dependent on substrate concentration. Activation was maximal with 1 microM [3H]cAMP and was reduced with increasing substrate; with greater than 10 microM cAMP, palmitoleic had no effect. Inhibition of cGMP hydrolysis was maximal at 2.5 microM cGMP and was reduced with increasing cGMP; at greater than 100 microM cGMP palmitoleic acid increased hydrolysis slightly. Palmitoleic acid did not affect apparent Km or Vmax for cAMP hydrolysis, but increased the apparent Km (from 17 to 60 microM) and Vmax for cGMP hydrolysis with little or no effect on the Hill coefficient for either substrate. These results suggest that certain hydrophobic domains play an important role in modifying the catalytic specificity of the cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase for cAMP and cGMP.     

A more sensitive assay for histone deacetylase

The new assay uses as substrate a peptide derived from the amino terminal domain of calf histone H4. The peptide contains all the lysines that are acetylated in H4 in vivo and these lysines are specifically labeled in vitro with acetic anhydride to a high specific activity. This substrate allows histone deacetylase activity to be measured economically and with high sensitivity either with pure enzyme or with crude extracts.     

Fluorescent nucleotide triphosphate substrates for snake venom phosphodiesterase

The procedure described utilizes a crude cell-free extract from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as enzymatic source for the synthesis of coproporphyrin III from [¹⁴C]δ-aminolevulinic acid with a high yield of conversion (?60%). Both specific radioactivity and total radioactivity of coproporphyrin III can be adjusted fairly well. This procedure is not time consuming for yeast acellular extracts or porphyrin ester preparations. The acellular extracts can be stored frozen (?30°C) for at least 1 year without loss of enzymatic activity. The same procedure can be used for [¹⁴C]protoporphyrin preparation.     

A new,fast, and sensitive assay for NADH-ferredoxin oxidoreductase detection in clostridia

A new, simple and very sensitive assay for NADH-ferredoxin or flavodoxin reductase activity is described. The assay is based on the nonenzymatic reduction of the metronidazole by ferredoxin or flavodoxin. In the presence of NADH, ferredoxin or flavodoxin and cell-free extract of clostridia, no metronidazole reduction is observed; the reaction occurs only if acetyl-CoA is added to the reaction mixture. Metronidazole reduction is quantitated by the spectrophotometric measurement at 320 nm. In this assay the change in absorbance is linearly related to the amount of clostridial extract for concentration of 0.1 to 0.8 mg/ml and to the flavodoxin or ferredoxin for concentrations of 0.5 to 8 nmol/ml.     

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and protein activator in fetal rabbit tissues.

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity (EC 3.1.4.17) was studied in fetal and newborn rabbit brain, heart, liver, kidney, and lung. Kinetic analysis of phosphodiesterase activity from homogenates of organs from the 25-day embryo suggested the presence of a high K_m and a low K_m activity for both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP hydrolysis. The addition of 1 μm cyclic GMP to the assay stimulated the hydrolysis of cyclic AMP by whole homogenates of liver, brain, lung, and kidney, but not heart, at all of the ages studied. The addition of micromolar levels of calcium ion stimulated cyclic GMP hydrolysis by homogenates of fetal brain, heart, and kidney, with or without added protein activator. Cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activity was not stimulated by the addition of calcium ion in homogenates of early fetal rabbit liver and lung, but stimulation was detected in the late embryo and newborn. The presence of the heat-stable protein activator was demonstrated in brain, heart, kidney, liver, and lung tissue at all of the fetal ages studied, and in the newborn rabbit. DEAE-cellulose chromatography demonstrated the presence of three separable enzymes in brain and liver at 15 days, heart at 19 days, and lung and kidney at 25 days of gestation, with no changes in the kinetic properties of the isolated enzymes during development. These experiments suggest that all of the organs studied have the mature array of phosphodiesterases early in development, but an enzyme from liver and lung becomes sensitive to regulatory control by calcium only late in gestation.     

Properties of a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase of amphibian oocytes that is activated by calmodulin and calcium,by tryptic proteolysis,and by phospholipids

A calmodulin-Ca²⁺-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17) which hydrolyzed both cGMP and cAMP has been purified about 2000-fold from ovaries of the amphibian Xenopus laevis. Gel filtration through Sephadex G-200 indicated a molecular weight of 140,000. A single, major protein band of molecular weight 66,000 was observed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In addition to the stimulation by calmodulin-Ca²⁺, the enzyme was activated 5- to 10-fold by proteolysis and by certain phospholipids. Trypsin activation of the enzyme caused a reduction in the native molecular weight to 90,000 and a loss of the capacity to be stimulated by calmodulin-Ca²⁺ or by phospholipids. The phosphodiesterase was stimulated by low concentrations (0.1 μg/ml) of lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine. This response did not require calcium ions. Phosphatidylinositol, fatty acids, progesterone, and phospholipase C had little or no effect on activity. Simultaneous addition of 1 mm 2-chloro-10-(3-aminopropyl)phenothiazine and lysophosphatidylcholine to the enzyme did not diminish the stimulatory effect of the phospholipid. The activation of the enzyme by all three agents resulted in an increase in the maximum velocity of the reaction without significant modification of the apparent K_m values for cGMP (5 μm) or cAMP (30 μm). It was suggested that trypsin removed an inhibitory domain from the enzyme and that calmodulin and phospholipids interact with this same domain, eliminating its capacity to inhibit the active center of the enzyme.     

A sensitive fluorimetric rate assay for biotinidase using a new derivative of biotin, biotinyl-6-aminoquinoline

The previously reported method for the estimation of biotinidase (EC 3.5.1.12) is an endpoint colorimetric assay based on the hydrolysis of biotinyl-4-aminobenzoate, followed by diazotization, and is not suitable for our studies of biotinidase. A fluorimetric rate assay of biotinidase which uses a newly synthesized derivative biotinyl-6-aminoquinoline is described here.     

A rapid and sensitive paper electrophoresis assay for the detection of microbial siderophores elicited in solid-plating culture

A rapid and sensitive assay for the detection of microbial siderophores (iron-binding compounds) is described. Nine representative fungal and bacterial cultures including Ustilago sphaerogena, Penicillium sp., Fusarium roseum, Rhodotorula pilimanae, Bacillus subtilis W 23, Bacillus subtilis W 168, Bacillus megaterium, Azotobacter vinelandii OP, and Escherichia coli B, were nutritionally stressed for iron by sequential transfers on iron-deficient solid-plating media. In response to Fe-stress conditions, the microorganisms excreted siderophore compounds into the extracellular solid culture medium. The solid agar matrix effectively concentrated and restricted the migration of the siderophore compounds to the region immediately adjacent to colonial growth. Agar-block samples from this region were removed and placed at the origin of an electrophoresis paper strip. The resultant absorbed material from the agar-block sample was subjected to high-voltage paper electrophoresis which separated the siderophore compounds by size and molecular net charge. Phenolic acid (“catechol”)-type siderophores were detected by fluorescence under uv light. Hydroxamic acid-type siderophores were visualized by spraying the electrophoretogram with ferric iron solution.     

Catalytic and kinetic properties of purified high-affinity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from dog kidney

High-affinity cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase purified to homogeneity from dog kidney was studied with respect to its stability, its catalytic and kinetic properties, and its sensitivity to pharmacological agents. The enzyme was shown to rapidly lose activity upon dilution to low protein concentrations in aqueous media, but this activity loss was largely prevented by the presence of bovine serum albumin or ethylene glycol. Similarly, maximum activity required bovine serum albumin to be present during incubation for activity analysis. Enzyme activity required a divalent cation; Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Co²⁺ each supported activity, but highest activity was obtained with Mg². The temperature optimum ranged from 30 to 45 °C and depended on substrate concentration; the E_a = 10,600 cal/mol. The pH optimum of the enzyme was broad, with a maximum from pH 8.0 to 9.5. The enzyme exhibits linear Michaelis-Menton kinetics for hydrolysis of cyclic AMP at all substrate concentrations tested and for hydrolysis of cyclic GMP at > 20 μm. The K_m for cyclic AMP hydrolysis was 2 μm, and that for cyclic GMP hydrolysis was 312 μm. The K_i values for the competitive inhibition of hydrolysis of each substrate by the other were similar to their K_m values suggesting a single active site. Cyclic AMP hydrolysis was weakly inhibited by cyclic GMP, cyclic IMP, adenine, and adenosine, but was not inhibited by the mono-, di, or trinucleotides of adenosine, guanosine, or inosine. Activity was competitively inhibited with K_i values in the micromolar range by drugs representative of methylxanthines, isoquinolines, pyrazolopyridines, imidazolidinones, triazolopyrimidines, pyridylethylenediamines, phenothiazines, and calcium antagonists. The results are discussed with reference to the similarities and differences between high- and low-affinity phosphodiesterase forms.     

A sensitive assay of galactocerebroside beta-galactosidase by high-performance liquid chromatography using galactosyl-N-dansyl-sphingosine as substrate

A rapid and sensitive method was devised for determining β-galactosidase activity specific for galactocerebroside. A fluorescent derivative of galactocerebroside, 1-O-galactosyl-2-N-1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulfonyl-sphingosine, was used as substrate, and the product, 2-N-1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulfonyl-sphingosine, was taken into organic solvent phase. Quantitative analysis of 2-N-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulfonyl-sphingosine was carried out fluorometrically by use of high-performance liquid chromatography on silica gel column.     

A sensitive and simple assay of starch synthase activity with pyruvate kinase and luciferase

A coupled recording assay of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity at and below 1 μm is presented. The method is especially useful in preparative work where speed is more important than high accuracy, but results agree well with a more accurate radioactive assay. Attention is drawn to the fact that, because the product of the coupled reaction, ATP, is also an intermediate, its instantaneous rate of formation can exceed the rate of the first step under certain conditions.     

Reaction of peptide thiobenzyl esters with mammalian chymotrypsinlike enzymes: A sensitive assay method

Sensitive methods for the determination of rat mast cell protease I, rat mast cell protease II, human skin chymotrypsinlike enzyme, dog skin chymotrypsinlike enzyme, human leukocyte cathepsin G, and bovine chymotrypsin A_α with peptide thiobenzyl ester substrates are reported. Kinetic constants as well as the maximum sensitivity for the hydrolysis of the peptide substrates succinyl-phenylalanyl-leucyl-phenylalanine thiobenzyl ester and succinyl-alanyl-alanyl-prolyl-phenylalanine thiobenzyl ester were determined. Hydrolysis rates were followed spectrophotometrically at 324 nm by the formation of 4-thiopyridone (? = 19,800 m^?1 cm^?1), the product of the reaction between benzylthiol, released during hydrolysis of the peptide thiobenzyl esters, and 4,4′-dithiodipyridine present in the assay mixture. Peptide thiobenzyl ester substrates were shown to be very sensitive substrates, predominantly because of the large extinction coefficient of 4-thiopyridone and the high $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>cat</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$ values for these compounds.     

Mammalian brain microtubules are sensitive to cyclic AMP in vitro

Microtubules assembled in vitro with ATP were depolymerized by the addition of cyclic AMP, which correlates with a stimulation of the endogeneous phosphorylation reaction. When assembled with GTP, however, microtubules were only sensitive to cyclic AMP when ATP was present. This nucleoside triphosphate induced the disassembly of microtubules in a concentration-dependent, cyclic nucleotide-stimulated manner. Since UTP, CTP and the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog adenosine-5'-(beta, gamma-methylene)triphosphate were without comparable effect, it was assumed that phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated proteins may represent a physiological mechanism by which microtubules in the living cell respond to external stimuli.     

A quantitative assay for ciliate chemotaxis

A quantitative bioassay for ciliate chemotaxis based on the capillary principle is described using Tetrahymena thermophila as test organism. The attractant-containing assay tube designed for the bioassay attracts up to 4 X 10(4) cells in 2 h which makes electronic cell counting of the chemotactic response feasible. The attractants used are solutions of proteose peptone and yeast extract which also are growth media for this organism.     

The subcellular localization of calmodulin, cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, and adenylate cyclase in bovine adrenal medulla

The subcellular localization of calmodulin, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, and adenylate cyclase was studied in bovine adrenal medulla. Approximately 70% of the calmodulin and 90% of the cAMP phosphodiesterase activities were found colocalized in the cytoplasm. The subcellular distribution of adenylate cyclase closely paralleled the distribution of acetylcholinesterase, a marker for plasma membranes. The fraction of calmodulin which is particulate in nature has a distribution profile very similar to that of adenylate cyclase. The chromaffin granule fraction contained only 0.86% of the total cAMP phosphodiesterase, 0.41% of the total adenylate cyclase, and 1.4% of the total calmodulin.     

A sensitive method for the determination of cytolytic activity

A new method is described for the determination of the cytolytic activity of extremely low levels of stable as well as very labile cytotoxins. The method involves the application of the cytotoxin to a column of immunobilized erythrocytes or other suitable cells and a continuous monitoring of the column eluate for the presence of hemoglobin or other cell constituents. The cytotoxic activity of horseradish peroxidase at concentrations as low as 10^?12, m can be measured with this technique. The column hemolytic assay is compared with a static (batch) hemolytic assay with respect to sensitivity and reproducibility. Furthermore, a method is described to determine the true rates of lysis, i.e., the number of cells lysed per minute.     

A unique activity assay for carboxypeptidase A in human serum

Measurement of carboxypeptidase A, one of the pancreatic proteolytic enzymes, in human serum is made possible by a combination of affinity chromatography to isolate and concentrate the enzyme followed by monitoring activity spectrophotometrically with a high-turnover peptide substrate. Concentrations of enzyme in the nanogram-per-milliliter range can be determined with high precision and reliability. Initial clinical application of this method demonstrates no detectable activity in serum from normal individuals, but the enzyme is present in the sera of individuals with pancreatitis.     

A new sensitive radial diffusion method for microdetermination of alpha-amylase

A rapid, convenient, and efficient hybridization method for the determination of virus-specific RNAs in Py virus-infected cells is described. The method involves carrying out the hybridization of viral RNAs present in the RNA isolated from infected cells directly on nitrocellulose filters carrying denatured, immobilized Py-DNA (15 μl RNA solution/25-mm² filter). Under optimal conditions quantitative hybridization of viral RNA sequences is obtained within 24 h. The efficiency of hybridization is increased significantly when RNA fragmented by alkali under carefully controlled conditions is used.     

A sensitive assay employing a solid-phase metal chelator to estimate rates of iron accumulation by ferritin

To minimize the contribution by the appreciable rates of extraferritin Fe(II) autoxidation/polymerization which proceed concomitant with the accumulation of iron by ferritin, a simple discontinuous, spectrophotometric kinetic assay was developed. This assay procedure utilizes a commercial metal chelator to complex the substrate and thus quench the reaction. Because operation is between 0 and 20°C and below 1.5 mm Fe(II), interference by autoxidation is negligible. Rates are observed to be first order with respect to apoferritin concentration and first order with respect to Fe(II) concentration at substrate-to-protein ratios as great as 2 × 10⁴. Between 0 and 20°C, the temperature dependence of the rate yielded a linear Arrhenius plot with an activation energy of + 15.2 kcal mol^?1. The advantages offered by this assay procedure over existing assays are (i) the assay can be up to an order of magnitude more sensitive, and (ii) the interference by extraferritin Fe(II) autoxidation is insignificant.