Hymenolepis diminuta: lack of sulphate activation and sulphotransferase activity

There is no evidence that Hymenolepis diminuta can carry out sulphoconjugation reactions. Neither whole worms nor worm extracts were able to sulphate 4-methylumbelliferone. No sulphotransferase activity could be demonstrated in H. diminuta using a variety of substrates, nor was H. diminuta capable of synthesising the sulphate donor 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulphate from ATP and inorganic sulphate. Possible alternative sources of active sulphate in this parasite are discussed.     

Rat liver ATP-sulfurylase: purification, kinetic characterization, and interaction with arsenate, selenate, phosphate, and other inorganic oxyanions

ATP-sulfurylase (ATP:sulfate adenylyltransferase; EC 2.7.7.4), the first enzyme of the two-step sulfate activation sequence, was purified extensively from rat liver cytosol. The enzyme has a native molecular mass of 122 +/- 12 kDa and appears to be composed of identical 62 +/- 6-kDa subunits. At 30 degrees C and pH 8.0 (50 mM Tris-Cl buffer containing 5 mM excess Mg2+), the best preparations have "forward reaction" specific activities of about 20 and 2 units X mg protein-1 with MoO4(2-) and SO4(2-), respectively. The reverse (ATP synthesis) specific activity is about the same as the forward molybdolysis activity. The kinetic constants under the above conditions are as follows: KmA = 0.21 mM, Kia = 0.87 mM, KmB = 0.18 mM, KmQ = 0.65 microM, Kiq = 0.11 microM, and KmP = 5.0 microM where A = MgATP, B = SO4(2-), Q = APS, and P = total PPi at 5 mM Mg2+. PPi is a mixed-type inhibitor with respect to MgATP and SO4(2-). SeO4(2-) is an alternative inorganic substrate with a Vmax about 20% that of SO4(2-). The product, APSe, is unstable. But in the presence of a sufficient excess of APS kinase, APSe is completely converted to PAPSe. The rate constant for nonenzymatic PAPSe hydrolysis was determined from measurements of the final steady-state reaction rate in the presence of limiting initial SeO4(2-) and a large excess of MgATP, ATP sulfurylase, APS kinase, and the other coupling enzymes and their cosubstrates. The results yielded a k of 2.4 +/- 0.5 X 10(-3) sec-1 (t1/2 ca. 5 min). Phosphate is an effective buffer for enzyme purification and storage but inhibits catalytic activity, particularly at low substrate concentrations. In the presence of buffer levels of Pi, the MgATP reciprocal plot of the SO4(2-)-dependent reaction is concave-up. Inorganic monovalent oxyanions are dead end inhibitors competitive with SO4(2-) and apparently uncompetitive with respect to MgATP. The relative potencies are in the order ClO3- greater than ClO4- greater than FSO3- greater than NO3-. Thiosulfate is also competitive with SO4(2-) but noncompetitive with respect to MgATP. Several divalent oxyanions (MoO4(2-), WO4(2-), CrO4(2-), and HAsO4(2-] promote the enzyme-catalyzed cleavage of MgATP to AMP and MgPPi. The ratio Vmaxf/KmA ranged from 0.7 to 200 for various reactive inorganic substrates. The cumulative results suggest the random binding of MgATP and the inorganic substrate but the ordered release of MgPPi before APS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Localization of a sulphate-activating system within Euglena mitochondria.

Intact mitochondria, obtained from Euglena gracilis Klebs var. bacillaris Cori mutant W10BSmL, which lacks plastids, and purified on Percoll density gradients, form adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phosphosulphate from sulphate. The optimal conditions include addition of 17 mM-Tricine/KOH, pH 7.6, 18 mM-MgCl2, 250 mM-sucrose, 5.66 mM-sodium ADP (or 0.94 mM-sodium ATP), 1 mM-K2SO4, carrier-free 35SO4(2-) (32.1 microCi) and 1.0 mg of mitochondrial protein in a total volume of 2.65 ml and incubation at 30 degrees C. Experiments with the inhibitor of adenylate kinase P1, P5-di(adenosine 5'-)pentaphosphate indicate that ATP is the preferred substrate for sulphate activation; ADP is utilized by conversion into ATP via adenylate kinase. ATP sulphurylase, adenylylsulphate kinase (APS kinase) and inorganic pyrophosphatase constitute the sulphate-activating system; ADP sulphurylase is undetectable. Fractionation of Euglena mitochondria with digitonin and centrifugation allowed the separation of outer-membrane vesicles and mitoplasts as judged by electron microscopy and selected enzymic markers. The detergent-labile association of the sulphate-activating system with the mitoplasts (similar to that of adenylate kinase), the fact that most of the adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phosphosulphate formed by intact mitochondria is found in the surrounding medium, and the ease with which nucleotide substrates reach the activating system in intact organelles, suggest that the enzymes of sulphate activation are located on the outer surface of the mitochondrial inner membrane.     

Enzymatic sulfation of mucus glycoprotein in rat submandibular salivary gland

1. The enzymic activity which catalyzes transfer of sulfate ester group from 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate to mucus glycoprotein was found associated with Golgi-rich membrane fraction of rat submandibular salivary gland. 2. Optimum enzyme activity was obtained with 0.5% Triton X-100, 4 mM MgCl2 and 25 mM NaF at a pH of 6.8 using desulfated submandibular salivary mucus glycoprotein. The apparent Km of the enzyme for mucus glycoprotein was 11.1 mg/ml. 3. Alkaline borohydride reductive cleavage of the synthesized 35S-labeled glycoprotein led to the liberation of the label into reduced oligosaccharides. A 75.4% of the label was found incorporated in four oligosaccharides. These were identified in order of abundance as sulfated penta-, tri-, hepta- and nonsaccharides. 4. Based on the results of chemical and enzymatic analyses of the intact and desulfated compounds the pentasaccharide was characterized as SO3H----GlcNAc beta----Gal beta----GlcNAc(NeuAc alpha----)GalNAc-ol and the trisaccharide as SO3H----GlcNAc beta----Gal beta----GalNAc-ol.     

THE SULPHATION OF VANILYLMANDELIC ACID AND HOMOVANILLIC ACID BY LIVER, SMALL INTESTINE AND BRAIN

Abstract— The sulpho-conjugates of vanilylmandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were biosynthesized in vitro from ATP and sodium sulphate and from 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulphate (PAPS) obtained commercially or generated in vitro . Hydrolysis with sulphatase indicated the sulphate nature of these conjugates. In decreasing order of activity, the liver, small intestine and brain of various animals exhibited this sulpho-conjugatory ability. The K _m, values of VMA and HVA for the sulphotransferase of mouse liver were, respectively, 1740 and 93 μM. Competition studies suggested that the same enzyme may be involved in the sulphation of these two acids.     

A sulphate metabolizing centre in Euglena mitochondria.

We have previously shown that a sulphate activating system is present on the outside of the inner mitochondrial membrane of Euglena gracilis Klebs. var. bacillaris Cori, but efforts to couple this system to ATP produced from oxidative phosphorylation were unsuccessful. In the present work we show that the concentration of Pi ordinarily used to support oxidative phosphorylation in these mitochondria (10 mM) inhibits sulphate activation completely; by reducing the concentration of Pi 10-fold, both processes proceeded normally. Sulphate activation under these conditions is inhibited nearly completely by the uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation dinitrophenol (0.1 mM) and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) (0.2 microM). Sulphate reduction to form free cysteine, most of which appears outside the organelle, and in the cysteine of mitochondrial protein can be demonstrated in the same preparations, is membrane-bound and is inhibited by chloramphenicol (100 micrograms/ml), NaN3 (5 mM), KCN (100 microM); dinitrophenol (0.1 mM) or CCCP (0.2 microM). Digitonin fractionation of the mitochondria into mitoplasts, outer membranes and an intermembrane fraction show that reduction of 35SO4(2-) to form free cysteine and cysteine of protein is located on the mitoplasts; adenosine 5'-phosphosulphate sulphotransferase, the first enzyme of sulphate reduction, is found in the same location. Sulphate activation is highly enriched in the mitochondrial fraction of Euglena; the small amount found in the chloroplast fraction can be attributed to mitochondrial contamination. Thus, in Euglena, sulphate activation and reduction are contained in a sulphate metabolizing centre on the outside of the mitochondrial inner membrane; this centre appears to supply the mitochondrion and the rest of the cell with the products of sulphate activation as well as with reduced sulphur in the form of cysteine. Mitochondria from wild-type Euglena cells and from W10BSmL, a mutant lacking plastids completely, appear to be similar in the properties studied.     

Phosphorylation of an 85-kd membrane protein by a novel mechanism

Protein phosphorylation has been recognized as a major mechanism for the regulation of cellular functions. The classical phosphate donor in protein phosphorylation reactions is ATP. Here we show that 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulphate (PAPS), a ubiquitous nucleotide so far known to have a central role in sulphate transfer, serves as phosphate donor for protein phosphorylation. In a very specific, rapid and probably autocatalytic reaction, the 3'-phosphate group of PAPS was found to be transferred to a serine residue of an 85-kd membrane protein (p85). ATP did not serve as phosphate donor in this reaction. Radioactive phosphate incorporated into p85 in a membrane fraction was rapidly lost by dephosphorylation after removal of PAPS or by exchange with unlabelled phosphate after addition of nonradioactive PAPS. PAPS-dependent phosphorylation of the 85-kd protein and other proteins was observed in all rat and bovine tissues examined, as well as in various mammalian cell lines. Our results indicate the existence of a novel widespread form of protein phosphorylation.     

Purification and characterization of a membrane-associated ATPase from Natronococcus occultus, a haloalkaliphilic archaeon

Isolated membranes of the extreme haloalkaliphilic archaeon Natronococcus occultus were able to hydrolyze ATP via an ATPase, which required the presence of Mg(2+), high concentrations of NaCl, and a pH value of 9. The native molecular mass of the purified ATPase was 130 kDa and was composed of 74- and 61-kDa subunits. Enzyme activity was specific for the hydrolysis of ATP with slight activity towards GTP, CTP, and ITP. The enzyme required NaCl for maximal activity but Na(2)SO(4) and (NH(4))(2)SO(4) could substitute. The enzyme showed no activity if Na(2)SO(3) or sodium citrate was substituted for NaCl. The ATPase from N. occultus was inhibited by NBD-Cl, NaN(3), and ouabain, and was sensitive to nitrate, vanadate, DCCD, and bafilomycin A(1). It was not inhibited by NEM in contrast to other previously characterized halophile ATPases. The ATPase had a K(M) of 0.5 mM and appeared to be non-competitively inhibited by NaN(3) with a K(I) of 3.1 mM.     

In vitro regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A reductase and acylcoenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase activities by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation in rabbit intestine

The regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A reductase and acylcoenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase activities by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation in rabbit intestine was studied in vitro. Preparing intestinal microsomes in the presence of 50 mM NaF caused a 64% decrease in the reductase activity. It had no effect on acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity. Microsomes that were prepared in NaF were incubated with intestinal cytosol, a partially purified phosphatase from cytosol, and Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase. All three preparations increased 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase by two- or three-fold suggesting dephosphorylation and 'reactivation' of enzyme activity. Cytosol caused a 78% increase in acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity, but neither the partially purified phosphatase nor the E. coli alkaline phosphatase affected the acyltransferase activity. Microsomes incubated with increasing concentrations of MgCl2 and ATP decreased both the activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and acylcoenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase in a step-wise fashion. Whereas this inhibitory effect was specific for reductase, the effect on acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity was secondary to the presence of ATP in the assay mixture. The 8500 X g supernatant of intestinal whole homogenate from isolated intestinal cells or scraped mucosa was incubated with MgCl2, ATP and NaF. In microsomes prepared from this supernatant, the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase was significantly decreased. Again, no change was observed in the acyltransferase activity. The rate of cholesterol esterification in isolated intestinal cells was not affected by 0.1 mM cAMP or 50 mM NaF. We conclude that under conditions which regulate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity in rabbit intestine by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation, no regulation of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity is observed.     

Hormone dependency of transformation of rat liver glucocorticoid receptor in vitro: effects of heat, salt, and nucleotides

A majority of the untransformed glucocorticoid-receptor complexes (GRc) from rat liver cytosol sedimented in the 9S region in 5-20% sucrose gradients containing 0.15 M KCl and 20 mM Na2MoO4. Incubation of the cytosol at 23 degrees C, or at 0 degree C with 10 mM ATP or 0.3 M KCl caused appearance of a slower migrating (4S) form which exhibited an increased affinity toward DNA-cellulose and ATP-Sepharose. Presence of 20 mM Na2MoO4 blocked this 9S to 4S transformation of GRc. A complete conversion of the 9S to the 4S form occurred upon a 2 h incubation of GRc with 10 mM ATP at 0 degree C. Other nucleoside triphosphates (GTP, CTP, and UTP), ADP and PPi (but not AMP or cAMP) were also effective in transforming the 9S form. The heat transformation occurred in a time-dependent manner and was complete within 1 h at 23 degrees C; presence of 10 mM ATP during this 23 degrees C incubation period allowed a complete 9S to 4S alteration in 10-20 min. Addition of ATP also accelerated the rate of salt activation of the GRc; a 50% conversion to the 4S form occurred in 20 min or 3 min in the absence or the presence of 10 mM ATP during the 0 degree C incubation of GRc with 0.15 M KCl. An absolute requirement of the hormone for 9S to 4S transformation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) was evident, as no conversion of the 9S form to the 4S form could be achieved with the ligand-free GR under any of the above conditions. Incubation of cytosol preparations at 23 degrees C or at 0 degree C with KCl or ATP caused dissociation of the GRc and reduced the steroid binding capacity of GR. Although aurintricarboxylic acid, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, Na2MoO4, Na2WO4, o-phenanthroline, Rifamycin AF/013 and heparin inhibited the ATP-Sepharose and DNA binding of the GRc, only Na2MoO4 and Na2WO4 selectively blocked the 9S to 4S conversion. We suggest that the 9S to 4S transformation in vitro of rat liver GRc represents an acquisition of DNA and ATP-Sepharose binding ability and may involve a separation of subunits from an oligomeric receptor structure.     

Affinity chromatography of H+-translocating adenosine triphosphatase isolated by chloroform extraction of Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophores. Modification of binding affinity by divalent cations and activating anions.

1. ATPase isolated from Rhodospirillum rubrum by chloroform extraction and purified by gel filtration or affinity chromatography shows three bands (alpha, beta and gamma) upon electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate. 2. Ca2+-ATPase activity of the preparation is inhibited by aurovertin and efrapeptin but not by oligomycin. Activity may be inhibited by treatment with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan and subsequently restored by dithiothreitol. 3. The enzyme fails to reconstitute photophosphorylation in chromatophores depleted of ATPase by sonic irradiation. 4. Most of the active protein from the crude chloroform extract binds to an affinity chromatography column bearing an immobilised ADP analogue but not to a column bearing immobilised pyrophosphate. 5. In the absence of divalent cations, a component with a very high specific activity for Ca2+-ATPase is eluted from the column by 1.6 mM ATP. This protein migrates asa single band on 5% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and only possesses three subunits. At 12 mM ATP an inactive protein is eluted which does not run on acid or alkali polyacrylamide gels and shows a complex subunit structure. 6. ATPase preparations prepared by acetone extraction or by sonic irradiation of chromatophores may also be purified 10-fold by affinity chromatography. 7. The inclusion of 5 mM MgCl2 or CaCl2 during affinity chromatography of chloroform ATPase increases the capacity of the column for the enzyme and demands a higher eluting concentration of ATP. 8. When the enzyme is more than 90% inhibited by efrapeptin or 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan, the binding characteristics of the enzyme are not affected. 9. 10 mM Na2SO3, which greatly stimulates the Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity of the enzyme and increases Ki (ADP) for Ca2+-ATPase from 50 to 850 micron, prevents binding to the affinity column. Binding may be restored by the addition of divalent cations. 10. Na2SO3 increases the rate of ATP hydrolysis, ATP-driven H+ translocation and ATP-driven transhydrogenase in chromatophores. 11. It is proposed that anions such as sulphite convert the chromatophore ATPase into a form which is a more efficient energy transducer.     

ATP sulfurylase from trophosome tissue of Riftia pachyptila (hydrothermal vent tube worm)

ATP sulfurylase (ATP: sulfate adenylyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.4) was extensively purified from trophosome tissue of Riftia pachyptila, a tube worm that thrives in deep ocean hydrothermal vent communities. The enzyme is probably derived from the sulfide-oxidizing bacteria that densely colonize the tissue. Glycerol (20% v/v) protected the enzyme against inactivation during purification and storage. The native enzyme appears to be a dimer (MW 90 kDa +/- 10%) composed of identical size subunits (MW 48 kDa +/- 5%). At pH 8.0, 30 degrees C, the specific activities (units x mg protein-1) of the most highly purified sample are as follows: ATP synthesis, 370; APS synthesis, 23; molybdolysis, 65; APSe synthesis or selenolysis, 1.9. The Km values for APS and PPi at 5 mM Mg2+ are 6.3 and 14 microM, respectively. In the APS synthesis direction, the Km values for MgATP and SO4(2-) are 1.7 and 27 mM, respectively. The Km values for MgATP and MoO4(2-) in the molybdolysis reaction are 80 and 150 microM, respectively. The Kia for MgATP is 0.65 mM. APS is a potent inhibitor of molybdolysis, competitive with both MgATP and MoO4(2-) (Kiq = 2.2 microM). However, PPi (+ Mg2+) is virtually inactive as a molybdolysis inhibitor. Oxyanion dead end inhibitors competitive with SO4(2-) include (in order of decreasing potency) ClO4- greater than FSO3- (Ki = 22 microM) greater than ClO3- greater than NO3- greater than S2O3(2-) (Ki's = 5 and 43 mM). FSO3- is uncompetitive with MgATP, but S2O3(2-) is noncompetitive. Each subunit contains two free SH groups, at least one of which is functionally essential. ATP, MgATP, SO4(2-), MoO4(2-), and APS each protect against inactivation by excess 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate). FSO3- is ineffective as a protector unless MgATP is present. PPi (+Mg2+) does not protect against inactivation. Riftia trophosome contains little or no "ADP sulfurylase." The high trophosome level of ATP sulfurylase (67-176 ATP synthesis units x g fresh wt tissue-1 from four different specimens, corresponding to 4-10 microM enzyme sites), the high kcat of the enzyme for ATP synthesis (296 s-1), and the high Km's for MgATP and SO4(2-) are consistent with a role in ATP formation during sulfide oxidation, i.e., the physiological reaction is APS + MgPPi in equilibrium SO4(2-) + MgATP.     

Influence of phosphatase inhibitors and nucleotides on [3H]dexamethasone binding in cytosol of human placenta

The purpose of this investigation was to establish the properties of [3H]dexamethasone binding sites in cytosol of human placenta at term. Cytosol containing 20 mM sodium molybdate (MoO4Na2) was incubated for 120 min at 20 degrees C with 40 nM [3H]dexamethasone. The following properties were observed: (a) a single population of binding sites of high affinity and low capacity was measured by Scatchard analysis; (b) potent glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone and cortisol displaced the tritiated ligand, progesterone showed an intermediate activity, whereas cortisone, testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol were ineffective competitors; (c) ultracentrifugation on 16-41% glycerol gradients containing 20 mM MoO4Na2 yielded sedimentation values of 10.25 +/- 0.35 S (n = 4 placentas); (d) the binding sites could be differentiated from the enzyme 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, as the activity of the former, but not that of the latter, was greatly dependent on the presence of MoO4Na2 in the incubation medium. Inactivation of binding sites labelled with [3H]dexamethasone by incubation at 20 degrees C was prevented by phosphatase inhibitors such as 20 mM MoO4Na2 (P less than 0.01), 20 mM sodium tungstate (WO4Na2) (P less than 0.01) and to a lower extent by 5 mM ATP and cAMP (P less than 0.05). 50 mM NaF, 5 mM GTP or cGMP had no effect. The protection afforded by MoO4Na2 and WO4Na2 was correlated with a significant inhibition of the activity of acid phosphatase, but not alkaline phosphatase. Neither ATP nor cAMP modified phosphatase activity. It is suggested that binding sites for [3H]dexamethasone in cytosol of human placenta showed properties similar to those described for glucocorticoid receptors in target cells, and that these binding sites are regulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation mechanisms.     

In vitro regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme a reductase and acylcoenzyme a: Cholesterol acyltransferase activities by phoshorylation-dephosphorylation in rabbit intestine

The regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A reductase and acylcoenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase activities by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation in rabbit intestine was studied in vitro. Preparing intestinal microsomes in the presence of 50 mM NaF caused a 64% decrease in the reductase activity. It had no effect on acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase activity. Microsomes that were prepared in NaF were incubated with intestinal cytosol, a partially purified phosphatase from cytosol, and Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase. All three preparations increased 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase by two- or three-fold suggesting dephosphorylation and ‘reactivation’ of enzyme activity. Cytosol caused a 78% increase in acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase activity, but neither the partially purified phosphatase nor the E. coli alkaline phosphatase affected the acyltransferase activity. Microsomes incubated with increasing concentrations of MgCl₂ and ATP decreased both the activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and acylcoenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase in a step-wise fashion. Whereas this inhibitory effect was specific for reductase, the effect on acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase activity was secondary to the presence of ATP in the assay mixture. The 8500×g supernatant of intestinal whole homogenate from isolated intestinal cells or scraped mucosa was incubated with MgCl₂, ATP and NaF. In microsomes prepared from this supernatant, the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase was significantly decreased. Again, no change was observed in the acyltransferase activity. The rate of cholesterol esterification in isolated intestinal cells was not affected by 0.1 mM cAMP or 50 mM NaF. We conclude that under conditions which regulate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity in rabbit intestine by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation, no regulation of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase activity is observed.     

Reduction and activity of cytochrome c in the cytochrome c-cytochrome aa3 complex.

An interaction between rat liver glucocorticoid--receptor complex and immobilized ATP was identified. Rat liver cytosol preparations were incubated with [3H]triamcinolone acetonide for 4 h at 4 degrees C and partially purified by precipitation with (NH4)2SO4 before use. The resulting glucocorticoid--receptor complex could be selectively adsorbed on to columns of ATP--Sepharose. The freshly prepared cytosol [3H]triamcinolone acetonide--receptor complex had very little affinity for binding to the ATP--Sepharose column, but acquired this ability on temperature- or salt-activation. The presence of 10 mM-sodium molybdate during this salt- or temperature-dependent activation blocked the binding of the receptor complex to ATP--Sepharose. The interaction is reversible, since it can be disrupted by high-salt conditions. A competitive binding assay, using free nucleotides in samples to be chromatographed, revealed a preferential interaction between ATP and the glucocorticoid--receptor complex. Buffer containing ATP was also used to elute the glucocorticoid--receptor complex from ATP--Sepharose columns successfully. When ATP was added to the preparations containing [3H]triamcinolone acetonide--receptor complexes, the steroid specificity or sedimentation properties of the complex remained unaltered. Our results demonstrate an interaction between rat liver glucocorticoid--receptor complex and immobilized ATP and suggest a role of this nucleotide in receptor function.     

Preparation and quantification of 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phospho[35S]sulfate with high specific activity

The synthesis and quantitation of the sulfate donor 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phospho[35S]sulfate (PAP35S), prepared from inorganic [35S]sulfate and ATP, were studied. An enzymatic transfer method based upon the quantitative transfer of [35S]sulfate from PAP35S to 2-naphthol and 4-methylumbelliferone by the action of phenolsulfotransferase activity from rat brain cytosol was also developed. The 2-naphthyl[35S]sulfate or 35S-methylumbelliferone sulfate formed was isolated by polystyrene bead chromatography. This method allows the detection of between 0.1 pmol and 1 nmol/ml of PAP35S. PAP35S of high specific activity (75 Ci/mmol) was prepared by incubating ATP and carrier-free Na2 35SO4 with a 100,000g supernatant fraction from rat spleen. The product was purified by ion-exchange chromatography. The specific activity and purity of PAP35S were estimated by examining the ratios of Km values for PAP35S of the tyrosyl protein sulfotransferase present in microsomes from rat cerebral cortex. The advantage and applications of these methods for the detection of femtomole amounts, and the synthesis of large scale quantities of PAP35S with high specific activity are discussed.     

Activation of thymocyte glucocorticoid receptors to the steroid binding form. The roles of reduction agents, ATP, and heat-stable factors.

The specific glucocorticoid binding capacity in cytosol preparations of rat thymocytes decays with a half-life of 4 h at 0 degrees C or 20 min at 25 degrees C. Phosphatase inhibitors (molybdate, fluoride, glucose 1-phosphate) added alone do not prevent this inactivation. Dithiothreitol (2 mM) has a large stabilizing effect on the binding capacity at 0 degrees C but only a small effect at 25 degrees C. Addition of 10 mM molybdate plus 2 mM dithiothreitol totally prevents inactivation for at least 8 h at 25 degrees C as well as at 0 degrees C. Fluoride (100 mM) also retards the inactivation if added with dithiothreitol. Addition of dithiothreitol at 25 degrees C to inactivated cytosol receptors results in partial activation of the binding capacity. Addition of dithiothreitol to receptors inactivated at 25 degrees C in the presence of molybdate allows total reactivation of the binding capacity to the maximum zero time value. If binding capacity is inactivated by preincubation of the cytosol at 25 degrees C, addition of ATP with dithiothreitol enhances the activation observed with only dithiothreitol. This ATP stimulated activation is optimal at 1 to 3 mM. ATP (10 mM) is required when molybdate is added to prevent simultaneous inactivation. ADP, GTP, CTP, and UTP have some activating capacity but the effects of all nucleotides are inhibited by the ATP analog, adenyl-5'-yl (beta, gamma-methylene)diphosphonate. ATP-dependent activation can also be prevented with 50 mM EDTA, and addition of magnesium partially overcomes the EDTA inhibition. Dithiothreitol activation of thymocyte glucocorticoid binding capacity can also be enhanced by addition of a heat-stable preparation from thymocytes, L cells, or liver. Sephadex G-25 chromatography, assay of ATP, and inhibition of the activation with adenyl-5'-yl (beta, gamma-methylene)diphosphonate suggest that these preparations contain varying amounts of endogenous reducing equivalents and ATP as well as a larger heat stable factor. Maximum activation is obtained by adding dithiothreitol, ATP, molybdate, and the larger heat-stable factor. These results suggest that stabilization and activation of glucocorticoid binding capacity in thymocytes requires phosphorylation as well as reduction of the receptor itself or of some other component required for the steroid binding reaction.     

ATP-dependent activation of L cell glucocorticoid receptors to the steroid binding form.

The specific glucocorticoid binding capacity in cytosols prepared from L929 mouse fibroblasts (L cells) is inactivated with a half-life of approximately 2 h at 25 degrees C. As previously published, this inactivation can be prevented with 10 mM molybdate and markedly slowed by addition of other phosphatase inhibitors such as glucose 1-phosphate and fluoride. We have now found that ATP (5 to 10 mM) also slows the rate of this inactivation. After extensively inactivating the receptor by preincubating cytosol at 25 degrees C for 4 and preventing further inactivation by addition of molybdate, addition of ATP results in reactivation of the steroid binding capacity. Maximal reactivation of 40 to 70% is achieved with 5 to 10 mM ATP. The activation is temperature-dependent and specific for ATP. ADP, GTP, CTP, and UTP do not cause activation and preliminary results indicate no effect of cyclic nucleotides in this system. If activation is prevented by addition of 10 mM EDTA to the cytosol, addition of 3 to 10 mM magnesium permits ATP-dependent activation of the binding capacity. The level of reactivation can be enhanced by addition of a heat-stable factor prepared from the same L cell supernatant. These results support the proposal that L cell glucocorticoid receptors can be activated to the glucocorticoid binding state by an ATP-dependent phosphorylation mechanism.     

Separation and characterization of receptor-translocation inhibitors from AH 130 tumor cells

The objective of this investigation was to study the relationship between glucocorticoid resistance and macromolecular receptor-translocation inhibitors ( MTIs ). MTIs in various cytoplasmic preparations are known to inhibit the "activated" receptor-steroid complex association with isolated nuclei, chromatin, or DNA. It was found that the MTI in the cytosol of AH 130 tumor cells (glucocorticoid resistant cells) appeared to be about 5 times more inhibitory than crude MTI from rat liver. Another difference between these MTI preparations was that ATP decreased the inhibition by crude MTI from rat liver, but had little effect on that of MTI from the tumor cells. Both preparations gave three fractions of material with inhibitory activity on DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The first fraction (Peak I), eluted with about 0.1 M NaCl, was the largest fraction separated from the tumor cytosol, but a minor fraction of that from liver. In the presence of 5 mM ATP, Peak I from rat liver enhanced nuclear binding, but that from the tumor did not, suggesting that these fractions were qualitatively different. The other two fractions (Peak II and Peak III), eluted with about 0.2 M and 0.3 M NaCl, respectively, were comparable in the two preparations.     

Partial purification and properties of a cyclic 3',5'-AMP-independent protein kinase from rat liver.

1. A cyclic 3',5'-AMP-independent protein kinase (ATP : protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) from rat liver cytosol was partially purified and characterized. Purification by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, DEAE-cellulose, Bio Gel A-0.5 m and cellulose phosphate chromatography increased the specific activity about 700-fold. 2. An endogenous protein substrate was closely associated with the protein kinase and was not separable from this enzyme up to the cellulose phosphate stage. After phosphorylation, chromatography with Bio Gel A-0.5 m partially separated this endogenous phosphoprotein from the enzyme activity; this dissociation had no apparent effect on kinase activity with casein or phosvitin as substrates, or on the apparent molecular weight of the enzyme (approx. 158,000). 3. This protein kinase with casein, phosvitin, or the endogenous substrate was totally insensitive to the thiol reagents, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), iodoacetamide, and N-ethylmaleimide. The enzyme was also unaffected by cyclic 3',5'-AMP, heat-stable protein kinase inhibitor, and the regulatory subunit of a cyclic 3',5'-AMP-dependent protein kinase.