Studies on the structure of sphingomyelinase. Amino acid composition and heterogeneity on isoelectric focusing.

Sphingomyelinase, purified to apparent homogeneity from human placenta, is an acidic protein, as judged from its amino acid composition and by isoelectric focusing of the carboxymethylated protein. The amino acid composition is characterized by an approximately equal content of hydrophobic and polar amino acid residues. The reduced-alkylated polypeptides were separated into two groups. Most of the polypeptides were heterogeneous with pI values of 4.4-5.0, but an additional more minor component was observed at pI 5.4. Liquid isoelectric focusing resolved the purified enzyme into a single major component (pI 4.7-4.8), a minor component (pI 5.0-5.4) and a plateau region of activity (pI 6-7). On thin-layer isoelectric focusing, the protein profile obtained from each of these regions was the same. In addition, the substrate specificity, Km values and effect of inhibitory substances were identical. We conclude that sphingomyelinase is an acidic, microheterogeneous protein that likely exists as a holopolymer of a single major polypeptide chain. the heterogeneity of the intact protein on isoelectric focusing appears to reflect this microheterogeneity, which is influenced by a tendency to associate with itself and with detergents such as Triton X-100.     

The identification and purification of multiple forms of theta-haemolysin (theta-toxin) of Clostridium perfringens type A.

The theta-haemolysin of Clostridium perfringens was purified from culture supernatant fluids of type A strains by fractional ammonium sulphate precipitation and isoelectric focusing in narrow pH 5 to 8 gradients. Four components detected on electrofocusing were designated theta-1(pI6-8to6-9),theta-2(pI6-5to6-6),theta-3(pI6-1to6-3) and theta-4(pI5-7to5-9). Specific activities ranged from 0-4 x 10-6 to 1-2 x 10-6 haemolytic units/mg protein and 2950 to 3600 LD-50/mg protein. Each haemolytic component was activated by cysteine hydrochloride, and inactivated by cholesterol, by addition of sheep erythrocyte ghosts and by heating at 60 degrees C for 10 min; mouse erythrocytes were more resistant than sheep erythrocytes to haemolysis. A reaction of identity was obtained between components in gel diffusion. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide discgel electrophoresis gave molecular weights in the range 59,000 to 62,000 for each component. A similar value was obtained for theta-1 on density gradient ultracentrifugation. Although the multiple forms were free of 11 factors present in culture supernatants, crossed immunoelectrophoresis and disc gel electrophoresis revealed minor contaminants. These studies reveal that theta-haemolysin has physical properties in common with other oxygen-labile haemolysins.     

Cytoplasmic proteins of Streptococcus mutans (serotype c) and their interaction with fluoride.

The protein profile of the cytoplasmic proteins of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 was determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Use of this recently developed, high-resolution analytical tool showed in excess of 140 cytoplasmic proteins. The profile consisted of mostly acidic components with pI values between 3.70 and 5.30 and relative molecular weights mainly in the 13,000 to 90,000 range. With sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the proteins were resolved into 40 to 45 components. The binding of fluoride by the proteins reached a maximum value in 15 min, and it was linear with exogenous F- doses of up to 60 to 80 ppm per mg of protein (60 to 80 micrograms/g). The proteins bound 22 to 138 times more F- from assay mixtures containing 1 mM CaCl2 than from assay mixtures containing such ions as HgCl2, ZnCl2, CuCl2, MgCl2, MnCl2, or SnCl2. When NaF, SnF2, NH4F, CsF, (CH3)4NF, and Na2PO3F were used as sources of F- (adjusted to 10 ppm of F- in all cases), the proteins bound 2.1, 1.8, 1.6, 1.4, and 0.3 ppm of F- per mg of protein, respectively. Initial fractionation of the plasma proteins by preparative column isoelectric focusing indicated that proteins with pI values of 4.1 to 4.5 as well as those with pI values of 5.0 to 5.3 bound twice as much F- as did the proteins outside these pI values.     

Microheterogeneity of human kininogen by isoelectric focusing and crossed immunoelectrophoresis.

LMW kininogen was isolated from whole human plasma by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 (Kav 0.34) followed by DEAE-chromatography according to earlier established methods. Further purification was performed with specific Sepharose-antibody columns to remove protein contaminants, avoiding procedures which may denature kininogen. The microheterogeneity was investigated by isoelectric focusing in column in the pH-gradients 3.5-10, 4-6 and 3.5-5. Kininogen components were determined by single radial immunodiffusion against monospecific anti-human kininogen serum, in comparison with focusing of whole plasma. 40% of isolated as well as whole plasma kininogen focused at pI 4.5; the respective focusing ranges were pI 4.4-4.7 (60--80%) and pI 4.3-4.6 (92%). The results were verified by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The pI 4.5 component is apparently the main native form of human kininogen as shown by focusing of whole human blood bank plasma. Earlier described difficulty of separating kininogen and alpha2HS-glycoprotein was verified by crossed immunoelectrophoresis which showed approximately seven kininogen components after focusing in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pI 4.5-5.0 and four alpha 2HS components at pI 4.2-4.6.     

Peridinin-Chlorophyll a Proteins of the Dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae (Plymouth 450)

The marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae (Plymouth 450) releases several water-soluble peridinin-chlorophyll a proteins after freezethawing. These chromoproteins have a molecular weight of 39.2 × 10³ and are comprised of noncovalently bound peridinin and chlorophyll a and a nonoligomeric protein. They have distinct isoelectric points and may be resolved into six components by either isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel or ion exchange chromatography. The predominant chromoprotein, which has a pI of 7.5, constitutes about 90% of the extractable peridinin-chlorophyll a protein. It consists of an alanine-rich apoprotein of molecular weight 31.8 × 10³ stoichiometrically associated with 9 peridinin and 2 chlorophyll a molecules. Additionally, the peridinin-chlorophyll a proteins with pI values of 7.6 and 6.4 were purified and found to have amino acid and chromophore composition essentially identical with the pI 7.5 protein. Peridinin-chlorophyll a protein, pI 7.5, after treatment at alkaline pH was transformed into several more acid pI forms of the protein, strongly suggesting that the naturally occurring proteins are deamidation products of a single protein. Fluorescence excitation and emission spectra demonstrate that light energy absorbed by peridinin induces chlorophyll a fluorescence presumably by intramolecular energy transfer. The peridinin-chlorophyll a proteins presumably function in vivo as photosynthetic light-harvesting pigments.     

Characterization of the Antigenic Subunits of the Envelope Protein of Yersinia pestis

Chemical, physical, and immunological properties of the envelope antigen of Yersinia pestis strains have been investigated. The antigen consists of two components with isoelectric points (pI) of 4.6 and 4.8. One component (pI 4.6) is a protein bound to a small carbohydrate moiety identified as an oligomeric galactan; the other component (pI 4.8) is a simple protein. These two components are antigenically identical. In buffered solution, the antigen exists as aggregates of molecular weights larger than 300,000. The aggregates dissociate into a variety of smaller molecular weight forms depending on the nature of the treatment for dissociation. Each aggregate can be further dissociated into a single antigenic subunit fraction containing protein and glycoprotein species with molecular weights in the range from 15,000 to 17,000. The subunits can be obtained by a dissociation treatment with 0.1% mercaptoethanol in 0.25% sodium dodecyl sulfate at 95 C for 5 min. The subunits will readily reaggregate into a variety of larger molecular weight forms on the removal of dodecyl sulfate.     

Physicochemical and immunochemical characterization of allergenic proteins from rye-grass (Lolium perenne) pollen prepared by a rapid and efficient purification method.

Three fractions of rye-grass (Lolium perenne) pollen extract have been isolated by preparative isoelectric focusing (i.e.f.) and characterized in terms of physicochemical and immunochemical properties. The purified components were designated 'R7' and 'R14' on the basis of their positions in relation to other rye-grass pollen extract components on SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and their apparent molecular masses were assessed as 31 and 11 kDa respectively. On i.e.f., R14 split into two components, one acidic (pI 5.0) and one basic (pI 9.0), termed 'R14a' and 'R14b' respectively, and R7 focused at pI 5.8. R7 and R14a were shown to be allergenic by skin-prick test and all three components were recognized by rye-grass-pollen-specific human IgE. On SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and i.e.f., R7 behaved in a manner identical with that shown by an authentic sample of Rye I and gave an amino acid analysis similar to published data [Johnson & Marsh (1966) Immunochemistry 3, 91-100] for Rye group-I isoallergens; the amino acid sequence of the first 27 N-terminal amino acids was also determined. Physicochemical analysis revealed that R14a was equivalent to Rye II and 14b to Rye III. Preparative i.e.f. followed by gel-permeation chromatography proved to be a rapid and efficient method for purifying the allergenic components of Rye I (R7), Rye II (R14a) and Rye III (R14b) from rye-grass pollen extract.     

Glutathione S-transferase from beef heart: structural and kinetic properties

A simple and rapid method for the purification of glutathione S-transferase is described. The physical and kinetic properties of purified enzyme are reported. The protein is constituted of two identical subunits with a total molecular weight of 46,000 daltons. The isoelectric focusing of crude cytosol or purified preparation gives a single peak of activity with a pI of 7.1. The kinetic analysis shows a relatively strict substrate specificity. Only 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene is conjugated to reduced glutathione at an appreciable rate. The peroxidase activity of the enzyme with respect to cumene hydroperoxide as substrate is negligible. Hemin and bilirubin are competitive inhibitors of catalytic activity.     

Multiple antigens in the rat visceral yolk sac induce teratogenic antisera

Preparative isoelectric focusing was used to fractionate the supernatant from a homogenate of day 19 rat visceral yolk sac. Three fractions, of pI ranges 3.5-5.0, 5.0-7.0, and 7.0-9.0, were isolated and used to immunize rabbits, by four or six weekly injections, each containing 5 mg protein. The resulting antisera were all teratogenic when injected into rats on day 9 of gestation, but widely differing potencies were observed. The most potent antiserum was that against yolk sac components focusing in the pI 7.0-9.0 range: An optimum teratogenic dose of 50 mg protein per kg body weight was observed, and a dose of 100 mg/kg was shown to cause 100% embryonic resorption. Antiserum against the fraction focusing in the pI 3.5-5.0 range was the least teratogenic: A significant incidence of embryonic malformation and death was seen only at doses of 600 mg/kg and above. The two fractions that yielded the more teratogenic antisera were refocused over narrower pH ranges, yielding four subfractions in the pI 5.0-7.0 range and eight subfractions in the pI 7.0-9.0 range. Antisera against each of these 12 fractions were raised in rabbits; most of these antisera were shown to be teratogenic, although of differing potencies. It is concluded that the yolk sac contains many antigens that can elicit antibodies with teratogenic and yolk sac-localizing properties.     

Heterogeneity of staphylococcal enterotoxin A on isoelectric focusing and disc electrophoresis.

Heterogeneity of purified staphylococcal enterotoxin A, obtained from a culture supernatant of Staphylococcus aureus, strain 13N-2909, was demonstrated by isoelectric focusing. The toxin was composed of three immunologically identical fractions with isoelectric points of 6.5, 7.0 and approximately 8.0. Heterogeneity of the toxin was also shown by disc electrophoresis. At pH 8.0 and 9.4 two major bands and a faint minor band were observed, while at pH 4.3 only one band was observed. The faster-moving band for the anode in disc electrophoresis at pH 9.4 was found to correspond with the pI 6.5 component from isoelectric focusing, while the slower-moving band corresponded with the pI 7.0 component. From the results of the electrophoretic migration tests of the toxin, the components corresponding to the two major bands found in disc electrophoresis at pH 9.4 were considered to be charge isomers.     

Characterization of proteins associated with nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Rat liver nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles were prepared by two different methods and defined as 40S ribonucleoprotein (40S RNP) and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (HnRNP) particles. The RNP particles were either solubilized in 8 M urea--6 mM 2-mercaptoethanol--20 mM glycine--20 mM Tris--HCl (pH 8.4) or subjected to removal of RNA by phenol extraction prior to solubilizing the proteins in the urea buffer. The proteins associated with 40S RNP and HnRNP were heterogeneous and very similar in their electrophoretic patterns when analyzed by two-dimensional PAGE, except a protein with molecular weight of 62 000 and an isoelectric point (pI) of 6.2 was present only in HnRNP particles. At least 12 major and 22 minor components could be identified in both preparations. The major proteins were found at pI values varying from 6.0 to 8.5 and with molecular weights from 32 000 to 42 000, and a group of proteins with molecular weight approximately 65 000 were more prominent in HnRNP than in 40S RNP. The other components were found mainly at pI ranges from 5.0 to 6.5 with molecular weights from 43 000 to 65 000. The phenol method extracted essentially all proteins associated with either 40S RNP and HnRNP, but was less effective in extracting a group of proteins with pI values from 5.0 to 5.5 and more efficient for proteins with pI values from 7.5 to 8.5. When chromatin proteins isolated by phenol extraction were compared with HnRNP particle proteins isolated by the same method, the electrophoretic mobilities of the HnRNP particle proteins were found to be identical with a fraction nonhistone chromatin proteins. The 40S RNP particles were further purified by metrizamide isopycnic density gradient centrifugation. The electrophoretic patterns of these proteins were very similar to those prepared by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Therefore, we concluded that the proteins of RNP particles constituted part of the chromatin proteins.     

Isoelectric analysis of 3H-pargyline-labelled monoamine oxidase in rat and carp

1. After selective binding of [3H]pargyline to either monoamine oxidase (MAO) A or MAO B in the rat liver, MAO B alone in the rat brain and MAO in carp brain and liver, molecular weight and isoelectric points (pI) of these MAO were determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing and results obtained were compared. 2. For all tissues tested, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of [3H]pargyline-bound samples revealed a labelled protein band of an apparent mol. wt of 60,000 da. 3. Estimation of radioactivity of [3H]pargyline bound after isoelectric focusing revealed a single protein band with acidic pI values of about 5.5 for rat brain and liver MAO B. 4. Moreover, the pI values of about 7.5 were obtained for carp brain and liver MAO. This basic value was also found for MAO A in the rat liver MAO A.     

Toad carbonic anhydrase: purification of the enzyme from erythrocytes of Bufo marinus and comparison with the enzyme activity in the urinary bladder.

1. Two forms of carbonic anhydrase, having isoelectric points of 6.1 and 5.8, were purified from erythrocytes of the toad, Bufo marinus, and the presence of a third form, pI = 5.4, was demonstrated. 2. Each of the two purified isozymes catalyzed the hydration of CO2 and the hydrolysis of nitrophenyl acetate esters at rates characteristic of Type C (or high-activity) forms of carbonic anhydrase. 3. Both forms of the erythrocyte enzyme have similar molecular weights (approx 29,000), amino acid composition, sensitivity to acetazolamide, and kinetic properties. 4. The epithelium of the toad's urinary bladder also was found to contain significant amounts of carbonic anhydrase, which appears by isoelectric focusing to be indistinguishable from the enzyme isolated from the erythrocyte.     

Analysis of rat serum apolipoproteins by isoelectric focusing. II. Studies on the low molecular weight subunits.

The low molecular weight proteins of rat apo HDL and apo VLDL have been isolated and analyzed by the technique of isoelectric focusing. Sephadex fractions from apo HDL (HS-3) and apo VLDL (VS-3) that contain these proteins reveal three major bands with apparent isoelectric points of pH 4.50, 4.67, and 4.74, as well as three minor bands at pH 4.43, 4.57, and 4.61. In addition, apo HDL has a major band at pI of 4.83. DEAE-Cellulose chromatography was used to prepare purified fractions of these components that were characterized by N-terminal analyses and molecular weight determinantions by SDS gel electrophoresis. The major low molecular weight components of apo HDL were focused on a slab gel and the bands were identified as A-II (pI 4.83), C-II (pI 4.74), C-III-0 (pI 4.67), and C-III-3 (pI 4.50). Neuraminidase treatment of apo HDL, followed by isoelectric focusing, suggested that the other bands, which have not previously been reported, may be additional forms of the C-III protein, differing only in their content of sialic acid.     

Isolation of specific antigens from Angiostrongylus cantonensis. 1. Preparative flatbed isoelectric focusing

Electrophoresis on SDS gel and analytical isoelectric focusing showed that a crude extract of Angiostrongylus cantonensis consisted of at least 40 protein components with molecular weights ranging from 13 000-70 000 and isoelectric points of pI values ranging from 3.7-10.0. Crossed-immunoelectrophoresis with a hyperimmune antiserum to A. cantonensis showed at least 40 different antigenic components in the crude worm extract which were cross-reactive with those of Ascaris suum, Metastrongylus apri and Toxocara canis. Using preparative isoelectric focusing, the somatic worm preparation was divided into 13 equal fractions, of which 3, 4 and 5, with pI values of 3.7, 4.0 and 4.45 respectively, were later shown by immunoelectrophoretic techniques and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to contain antigens specific to A. cantonensis.     

Isolation and comparative biochemical properties of the major internal polypeptides of equine infectious anemia virus.

We describe procedures for the large-scale production of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) and for the isolation of the four major non-glycosylated virion proteins, designated p26, p15, p11, and p9. Comparisons of the purified proteins by peptide mapping procedures and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays demonstrated the unrelatedness of the four proteins. The characteristic properties of each purified protein were examined by determining isoelectric points and amino acid compositions. We found that EIAV p26 and p9 focus at pI values of 6.2 and 5.0, respectively, and that these proteins contain no unusual amino acids. In contrast, EIAV p15 reproducibly displayed a heterogeneous isoelectric focusing pattern, with major pI values ranging from 5.7 to 8.3. This charge variation evidently correlated with different levels of phosphorylated serine or threonine or both, which could be detected by an amino acid analysis of purified p15. EIAV p11 apparently focused at a pI of greater than 10, reflecting its high content of basic amino acids. Moreover, localization experiments indicated that all four nonglycosylated proteins constitute the internal components of the virus, with all of the virion p11 closely associated with the viral RNA genome. Thus, our results demonstrated that EIAV, a lentivirus, contains structural polypeptides which are analogous to the structural polypeptides described previously in prototype C oncoviruses.     

An in vitro reversible interconversion of rat liver fatty acid binding protein having different isoelectric points by virtue of the fatty acid content.

Rat liver fatty acid binding protein (FABP) was purified to homogeneity by procedures including Sephadex G-100 and DEAE-cellulose column chromatographies. FABP was resolved into two major peaks, A and B, by the first DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Each of these two fractions exhibited apparent homogeneity upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate with a molecular weight of 14,000 Da and amino acid analysis of these fractions has revealed that they are virtually identical or closely resemble each other. However, their fatty acid content was significantly different and heterogeneity was clearly demonstrated in the patterns of isoelectric focusing. In this communication, a single isoform (pI 5.0) from peak B FABP was further purified by successive DEAE-cellulose column chromatography and used as the final preparation. When the final FABP was partly freed of fatty acids by a mild delipidation technique using Lipidex 1,000, the pI shifted upward from 5.0 to 7.0. However, the pI of the delipidated FABP returned to its original pI of 5.0 after recombining fatty acids. These in vitro manipulations of bound fatty acid content made clear its possible cause of the microheterogeneity of FABP.     

De novo synthesis of peroxidase in cotton ovule culture medium

The biosynthesis of cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L. 'Stoneville 208') peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) has been investigated in an organ culture system, since this enzyme may play a role in cell wall biogenesis or host defense mechanisms. Electrophoretic analysis of proteins from cotton ovule cultures indicated relatively few proteins being released into the surrounding medium. De novo synthesis of released peroxidase and other medium proteins was determined by in vivo labeling of ovule cultures with [³⁵S]-methionine. Analysis of labeled culture medium by denatured gel electrophoresis followed by fluorography showed incorporation of isotope into 2 major proteins with molecular weights of 30 kD and 56 kD, as well as a limited number of minor proteins. Similar analysis of native isoelectric focusing gels coupled with autoradiography demonstrated [³⁵S]-methionine incorporation into 2 major proteins with pI values of 4.3 and 5.0. The pI 5.0 protein was shown to have a molecular weight of 30 kD. The pI 4.3 protein had a molecular weight of 56 kD and was shown to be peroxidase by activity staining. Minor radiolabeled proteins were observed in the cationic region of the isoelectric focusing gels.     

Characterization of a major protein with a molecular weight of 160,000 associated with the viral capsid of Epstein-Barr virus.

A monoclonal antibody designated V3 was produced against a late protein associated with the Epstein-Barr virus-induced viral capsid antigen complex. The antibody reacted with discrete patches in the nuclei of infected cells as well as with virus particles, as shown by immunofluorescence and ultrastructural immunoperoxidase staining. The molecular weight of the protein precipitated by this monoclonal antibody was ca. 160,000. All anti-viral capsid antigen antibody-positive sera tested in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reacted with this purified protein. The synthesis of the antigen was inhibited by phosphonoacetic acid but was not affected by tunicamycin, indicating that this was a late nonglycosylated viral protein. No differences were noted between the protein isolated from the P3HR-1 and B-95-8 cell lines as determined by immunoprecipitation and peptide mapping. By isoelectric focusing, this protein had a pI on the basic side ranging from 7.5 to 9.0.     

甘薯和花生胰蛋白酶抑制剂的初步研究

许多植物蛋白制成品均含有抑制动物消化的蛋白酶抑制剂。目前已从某些豆类及蔬菜种子中分离出多种对胰蛋白酶具有抑制作用的活性物质。该实验以花生、甘薯等为原料,通过DEAE-Sepharose4BFF阴离子交换柱层析分离胰蛋白酶抑制剂,以N-苯甲酰-L-精氨酸乙酯(BAEE)为底物测定其对胰蛋白酶的抑制活性;将具有抑制活性的组分通过SDS-PAGE测定蛋白质相对分子质量(Mr);以聚丙烯酰胺凝胶等电聚焦电泳测定蛋白质等电点(pI)。结果显示,甘薯中至少有4种胰蛋白酶抑制剂组分,相对分子质量为20～25kD、等电点在pH5.0～6.6之间;花生中至少有三种胰蛋白酶抑制剂组分,相对分子质量为30～70kD、等电点在pH5.0～5.8之间。