Photoaffinity labeling of the adenosine transport system in adipocyte plasma membranes

A membrane component involved in the transport of adenosine in adipocytes has been identified utilizing the techniques of photoaffinity labeling with the adenosine derivative, 8-azidoadenosine. In the absence of light, adenosine and 8-azidoadenosine exhibited similar transport characteristics. In addition, adenosine was shown to be a competitive inhibitor of 8-azidoadenosine uptake, and the photoprobe, a competitive inhibitor of adenosine uptake. Analysis of the nucleotide metabolites indicated that the photoprobe was metabolized in a similar fashion to that observed for adenosine. Several nucleoside transport inhibitors were also equally effective in inhibiting the uptake of both nucleosides. These results suggest that 8-azidoadenosine is transported by the same membrane system as adenosine. Photolysis of 8-azido[2-³H]adenosine in the presence of adipocytes resulted in the covalent incorporation of the photoprobe into the plasma membrane fraction. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that essentially all of the radioactivity was incorporated into a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 56,000. This labeling was inhibited by greater than 90% when the photolysis was carried out in the presence of excess adenosine or the transport inhibitors, persantin or theophylline. Fractionation of the labeled plasma membranes by dialysis against water (pH 9.5) indicated that approximately 75% of the radioactivity was associated with a glycoprotein which resisted solubilization by this procedure. These results suggest that the major labeled species is a 56,000 M_r intrinsic membrane glycoprotein which may function as a component of a transmembrane assembly involved in the transport of adenosine.     

Photoaffinity labeling of beta-adrenergic receptors: identification of the beta-receptor binding site(s) from turkey, pigeon, and frog erythrocyte

The β-adrenergic receptors in the erythrocyte membranes from turkey, pigeon, and frog have been identified $\text{in situ}$ utilizing the photoaffinity label ±[¹²⁵I]-iodoazidobenzylpindolol, ±[¹²⁵I]IABP. The molecular weights determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis are the following: turkey, 43,500; pigeon, 53,500, 46,000, and 45,000 [labeled in a ratio of 5 (53,500):2 (46,000 plus 45,000)]; and frog, a broad 60,000 to 67,000 dalton band. The data identify the binding site subunit(s) of these β-adrenergic receptors and suggest that the receptor structure from different β-receptor subtypes and different sources may be different. These biochemical differences may contribute to the pharmacologically observed distinction of β-receptor subtypes.     

Identification of cyclic guanosine monophosphate-binding proteins in Drosophila by direct photoaffinity labeling

A procedure for direct photoaffinity labeling with [³²P]cGMP has been used to identify cGMP-binding proteins in Drosophila. This method provides better sensitivity and resolution than previously described direct methods, because the proteins can be visualized by autoradiography following sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis. Labeling is observed with cGMP concentrations as low as 4 × 10^?8m and is specific for cGMP. The sensitivity of the technique is sufficient to permit detection of cGMP-binding proteins in crude extracts. With this technique a single cytoplasmic cGMP-binding protein of subunit M_r 108,000 has been identified in Drosophila embryos and cultured cells.     

The effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone on the metabolic labeling of membrane proteins in Drosophila imaginal discs

20-Hydroxyecdysone induces evagination of imaginal discs of Drosophila melanogaster cultured in vitro. The possible involvement of cell-surface proteins in this process has prompted us to study the synthesis of membrane proteins in imaginal discs. A procedure is reported for the isolation of membrane vesicle fractions from discs that are enriched for the plasma membrane enzyme, Na+/K+-ATPase, and that label with the surface-labeling reagent [125I]iodosulfanilic acid. 20-Hydroxyecdysone alters the pattern of [35S]methionine incorporation into polypeptides in these membrane vesicle fractions. Increased and decreased incorporation as well as changes in migration on two-dimensional gels of specific polypeptides are caused by the hormone. These changes parallel in time the onset and the continuation of evagination.     

Photoaffinity labeling of a microtubule-associated cyclic AMP-binding protein

8-Azido cyclic AMP has been used as a photoaffinity probe to identify cyclic AMP-binding proteins in microtubule preparations. Bovine brain microtubule proteins and rabbit muscle protein kinase were incubated with the photoaffinity ligand in reduced light for 15 min, without additions or with 100-fold excess unlabeled cyclic AMP or 5′-AMP. Samples were then irradiated at 254 nm at a distance of 1 cm for 5 min, in ice. After irradiation aliquots were taken for electrophoresis in one or two dimensions. Polypeptides which bound the photoaffinity label were visualized by autoradiography. The apparent molecular weights of the most prominent 8-azido ³²P-cyclic AMP-binding proteins are in the same range as those of the RII of the muscle enzyme. Following two-dimensional electrophoresis the major microtubule-associated cyclic AMP-binding proteins resolve as two spots with about the same pI (~pH 5.0) but slightly different molecular weights. Both spots are in the molecular weight range of the tubulins but they are clearly resolved from the tubulins in the first dimension. Cyclic AMP, but not 5′-AMP blocks the labeling of these proteins. There are low levels of labeling of the tubulins, the high-molecular-weight MAPs and several polypeptides with molecular weights near tubulin but with more basic pI. The photoaffinity probe has demonstrated that the major microtubule-associated cyclic AMP-binding protein of bovine brain is distinct from other RII proteins and from tubulin isomorphs.     

Affinity labeling of human glucosephosphate isomerase with N-bromoacetylethanolamine phosphate

N-Bromoacetylethanolamine phosphate rapidly and irreversibly inactivates glucosephosphate isomerase in a pseudo first-order fashion. Ratesaturation effects are observed with a minimum half-life of 4.5 minutes and a half-maximal rate of inactivation at 0.056 mM. Substrates, as well as competitive inhibitors, protect the isomerase from inactivation. Using ¹⁴C-labeled N-bromoacetylethanolamine phosphate, the incorporation of approximately one equivalent of inactivator per subunit of isomerase is indicated. After acid hydrolysis, the only modification appears to be the formation of carboxymethyl histidine. These studies indicate that the substrate analogue N-bromoacetylethanolamine phosphate is a specific affinity label that can be used to probe the active site of glucosephosphate isomerase.     

Surface activity and human blood platelet aggregation-inhibitory potency

Surface and interfacial activity is correlated with molecular constitution and inhibitory potency of mono- and bis(carbamoylpiperidino)alkanes and aralkanes, and of some corresponding quaternary pyridinium congeners, in ADP-induced human blood platelet aggregation. The measurements of surface and interfacial tension were carried out at concentrations and pH-values approximating those employed in the hemodynamic study. The effect of changes in chemical structure, ranging from relatively minor variations in a specific functional group to the alteration of major components in molecular constitution, was examined and interpreted in terms of contemporary theoretical chemistry.     

Periodate oxidation of methionine in proteins

Treatment of free methionine with an equimolar amount of periodate gave nearly quantitative formation of the sulfoxide; treatment of free methionine sulfoxide with equimolar periodate gave nearly equal amounts of the original sulfoxide and the sulfone. Treatments of 0.5-1.0% solutions of the following proteins with relatively low concentration of periodate (5 mm) gave the following approximate values for conversion of methionine sulfoxide from total methionine: bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (2 of 4), chicken ovalbumin (14 or 17), chicken ovotransferrin (5 of 11), human serum transferrin (2 of 8), bovine α-chymotrypsin (1 of 2). It is recommended that when proteins are treated with sodium periodate (and probably with oxidizing agents in general), especially when changes in properties are observed, determinations of methionine sulfoxide should be done.     

Affinity labeling of spinach ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase with periodate-oxidized NADP+

Periodate-oxidized NADP⁺ (dialdehyde-NADP⁺) inactivated soluble ferredoxin-NADP⁺ oxidoreductase and combined covalently to the enzyme. This inactivation was first order with respect to dialdehyde-NADP⁺ and followed saturation kinetics, indicating that the enzyme initially forms a reversible complex with the inactivator. NADP⁺ afforded complete protection against inactivation, while spinach ferredoxin was uneffective. In the presence of exogenous ferredoxin and illuminated thylakoids, the nucleotide analog functioned as a coenzyme for the reductase, although with rather lower efficiency than NADP⁺. It also acted as a competitive inhibitor with respect to NADPH in diaphorase activity. Incorporation of radioactivity from periodate-oxidized [³H]NADP⁺ gave a stoichiometry of 0.85 mol of reagent/mol of reductase, indicating that the modification of a single residue in the flavoprotein is responsible for the loss of enzymatic activity.     

Haem-binding proteins of the rat liver cytosol

Gel filtration of soluble supernatant fraction obtained from livers of rats 10 min after an injection of the haem precursor 5-amino [³h] laevulinic acid shows the presence of a major radioactive fraction which upon gel filtration is similar in elution volume to ligandin. 20 min after administration of the precursor four previously minor components also come into prominence. This pattern is a characteristic of in vivo binding since a different elution pattern is obtained if soluble supernatant fraction from rat liver is labelled in vitro by incubation either with [³H] haem-labelled mitochondria, [³H] haem-labelled microsomes or with [³H] haemin.These results are discussed with particular reference to ligandin.     

A complex of acidic ribosomal proteins. Evidence of a four-to-one complex of proteins in the Bacillus stearothermophilus ribosome

Two acidic proteins from the 50 S subunit of Bacillus stearothermophilus ribosomes, namely B-L13 (homologous to Escherichia coli protein $\text{L}\text{7}\text{L}\text{12}$) and B-L8, form a complex. Radioactive B-L13, added to ribosomes before dissociation, does not appear in the complex after electrophoresis, so the (B-L13 · B-L8) complex must exist in the ribosome before dissociation. Digestion of B. stearothermophilus ribosomes with polyacrylamide-bound trypsin causes the appearance of new B-L8 and B-L13 spots on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, in a pattern which suggests that single molecules of B-L13 are being sequentially cleaved from a four-to-one complex of B-L13 and B-L8.     

Cell surface proteins of Drosophila. II. A comparison of embryonic and ecdysone-induced proteins

The cell-surface proteins of Drosophila embryos at gastrula and myoblast fusion stages were characterized by radioiodination and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Over 13% of the cell surface proteins detected in gastrula embryos were not found in myoblast fusion stage embryos or in Drosophila embryonic cell line EH34A3 cells. Nearly 18% of the cell-surface proteins detected in myoblast fusion stage embryos were evident only at that stage. Embryonic cell-surface proteins were compared with cell-surface proteins from untreated EH34A3 cells and EH34A3 cells treated with 20-hydroxyecdysone, which induces cell aggregation and the expression of "new" proteins at the cell surface (D. F. Woods and C. A. Poodry, 1983, Dev. Biol. 96, 23-31). Only one of the proteins induced by ecdysone in EH34A3 cells was detected in the NP-40 soluble fraction of radioiodinated cell lysates, even after fractionation by lectin affinity chromatography and immunoprecipitation to enrich for putative ecdysone induced proteins. However, extraction of the NP-40 insoluble pellet of embryo cells revealed one additional protein that was present both in myoblast fusion stage embryos and hormone-treated culture cells. It was concluded that except for these two proteins, the cell-surface proteins induced in cultured cell lines by treatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone are not present in significant amounts in gastrula or myoblast fusion stage embryos.     

Formation and stability of cytoplasmic mRNAs during myoblast differentiation: Pulse-chase and density labeling analyses

Stabilities and rates of formation of cytoplasmic mRNAs have been measured quantitatively in cultures of embryonic quail breast myoblasts undergoing differentiation to form muscle fibers. Uridine pulse-chase studies show that dividing myoblasts and differentiated fibers form both short- and long-lived mRNAs. Short-lived mRNAs in myoblasts and fibers have similar half-lives of 2–4 hr, however, long-lived mRNAs have a half-life of 60–100 hr in myoblasts and only 20 hr in fibers. When myoblasts fuse, the formation of long-lived cytoplasmic mRNAs increases at least twofold, and this increased formation together with the cessation of myoblast cell division at fusion is sufficient to account for the four- to fivefold accumulation of long-lived mRNA observed in fibers. These long-lived mRNAs were identified by density labeling cultures with ¹⁵N, ¹³C-nucleotides, chasing with light nucleosides, and then translating the density labeled mRNAs in wheat germ extracts. These experiments show that the contractile protein mRNAs, as well as 60–70 other muscle mRNAs are actively synthesized by muscle fibers and that all of the specific mRNAs detected have half-lives clustering around 20 hr.     

Collagen-induced platelet aggregation and release. II critical size and structural requirements of collagen

To investigate the mechanisms governing collagen interaction with blood platelets, the effects of side-chain modifications on collagen-induced platelet aggregation and release of serotonin were studied. Since many chemical modifications alter the ability of collagen to form fibers that, according to current theory, may complicate interpretation of data, we eliminated this possibility by using collagen stabilized in a native-type fibrillar structure by treatment with either glutaraldehyde or ultraviolet irradiation. Acetylation, methylation, succinylation, treatment with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid or 1,2-cyclohexanedione, and deguanidination with hypobromite were used to modify collagen side-chain reactive groups: amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl and guanidino. Both unmodified monomeric dispersed and fibrillar collagen preparations initiated platelet aggregation and release, although the kinetics and magnitude of the response were different. Monomeric collagen which had been modified by deguanidination, methylation or succinylation, failed to polymerize in physiological conditions and did not induce platelet aggregation and release. However, none of the chemical modifications of stabilized native-type collagen fibers, except treatment with hypobromite or cyclohexanedione, had an effect on collagen-induced platelet aggregation and release. Both hypobromite and cyclohexanedione modified guanidino groups of arginyl residues. Results showed that the ability of a collagen sample to induce platelet aggregation and release of serotonin is dependent on the arginine content of fibrillar collagen.These data demonstrate that manipulation of amino, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups is unimportant as long as the native-type fibrillar structure is maintained, and that arginyl residues are directly involved in collagen-platelet interaction. Moreover, the data suggest that only the arginyl residues in the Y position of the tripeptide unit Gly-X-Y of collagen are responsible.     

Solubilization and characterization of cardiac sarcolemmal taurine-binding proteins

Cardiac sarcolemma preparations of both pig and rat ventricles were found to possess two sets of taurine-binding components. The two proteins from pig heart were solubilized with the detergent Ammonyx-Lo. Characterization of these solubilized proteins revealed that both components are glycoproteins and retain the binding properties observed for the membrane isolate. However, the characterization also revealed several differences between the proteins including their binding specificities, their affinities for taurine, their binding isotherms, and their molecular sizes. Possible functions of these two taurine-binding proteins are discussed.     

Non enzymatic glycosylation increases platelet aggregating potency of collagen from placenta of diabetic human beings

Pepsin extracted collagen and an acid soluble glycoprotein were purified from placentas of normal and diabetic human beings. Diabetic samples exhibit a significant increase in ketoamine-linked glucose whereas both amino acid and carbohydrate composition were unaffected. This excess non enzymatic condensation of glucose on free amino-groups was found to increase platelet aggregating potency of these proteins independently of any modification in fiber morphology.     

A batchwise purification procedure of neurofilament proteins

A rapid batchwise purification procedure for neurofilament proteins from bovine spinal cord is described. A crude filament fraction can be obtained by treating the tissue with Triton X-100, followed by centrifugation through sucrose. From this crude filament fraction the protein is processed through a batch purification procedure using hydroxyapatite in 8 M urea. With this procedure, approximately 0.5 g of purified neurofilament protein is obtained from a single bovine spinal cord in less than 3 days.