Characteristics of a protease of Streptococcus sanguis G9B which degrades the major salivary adhesin

An endogenous enzyme present in cell surface extracts of Streptococcus sanguis strain G9B degraded the major salivary adhesin of the organism. The enzyme showed optimal activity between 50 and 65 degrees C and was inactivated at higher temperatures. The activity at these unusually high temperatures seemed to be a consequence of release from the cell surface since intact whole G9B cells showed greater activity at 37 degrees C. The enzyme was not found in culture supernatants of G9B cells. The pH range for the enzyme was between 5 and 9. It was inhibited by iodoacetic acid, Hg2+, Cu2+, EDTA, SDS, and PMSF, but not by TLCK, TPCK, soybean trypsin inhibitor, cysteine, dithiothreitol, leupeptin, Ca2+, Mg2+ or saliva. The enzyme did not show any activity against human or rabbit IgG or human IgA. Enzyme activity was also found in S. sanguis strains Adh- (a spontaneously occurring non-adherent mutant of G9B), and M-5.     

Biosynthesis of streptomycin enzymic oxidation of dihydrostreptomycin (6-phosphate) to streptomycin (6-phosphate) with a particulate fraction of Streptomyces griseus

Resting cells and to a greater extent permeabilized cells of Streptomyces griseus can oxidize dihydrostreptomycin to streptomycin. The dihydrostreptomycin oxidoreductase activity was localized in the 100 000 × g particulate fraction. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation of the particulate suspension gave a band at a density of 1.09 which consisted mainly of membrane vesicles. This fraction had high dihydrostreptomycin oxidoreductase activity. S. griseus protoplasts also contain high oxidoreductase activity. These data are consistent with localization of the enzyme in the cell membrane. Dihydrostreptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin 6-phosphate can both serve as substrates for the oxidoreductase, but the phosphate was the better substrate in the cell free system. Addition of cofactors was not required for the bound dihydrostreptomycin oxidoreductase. The electron acceptor for the oxidation is unknown. Oxidation of dihydrostreptomycin 6-phosphate to streptomycin 6-phosphate very probably represents the penultimate step in the biosynthesis of streptomycin.     

Amino acid sequence of a probable amylase/protease inhibitor from rice seeds

The primary structure of a 9-kDa basic protein from rice seeds was determined by gas-phase sequencing of the intact protein and peptides derived from it by digestion with trypsin, chymotrypsin, and endopeptidase Lys-K. The protein consists of a single polypeptide chain of 91 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 8909 Da. It is rich in alanine, serine, glycine, and cysteine. The eight cysteines form four disulfide bonds. There is no methionine, histidine, phenylalanine, or tryptophan. The sequence is highly homologous with an alpha-amylase inhibitor, I-2, from seeds of Indian finger millet [F. A. P. Campos and M. Richardson (1984) FEBS Lett. 167, 221-225] and a 10-kDa barley seed protein, also called a probable amylase/protease inhibitor [B. Svensson et al. (1986) Carlsberg Res. Commun. 51, 493-500; J. Mundy and J. C. Rogers (1986) Planta 169, 51-63]. In analogy with the barley protein, the purified protein is tentatively called a rice probable amylase/protease inhibitor (PAPI). The rice PAPI does not show inhibitory activities against proteases and amylases tested. The amino acid sequence is as follows: Ile-Thr-Cys-Gly-Gln-Val-Asn-Ser-Ala-Val(10)-Gly-Pro-Cys-Leu-Thr-Tyr- Ala-Arg-Gly-Gly(20)-Ala-Gly-Pro-Ser-Ala-Ala-Cys-Cys-Ser-Gly(30)-Val-Arg- Ser-Leu-Lys-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ser-Thr(40)-Thr-Ala-Asp-Arg-Arg-Thr-Ala-Cys- Asn-Cys(50)-Leu-Lys-Asn-Ala-Ala-Arg-Gly-Ile-Lys-Gly(60)-Leu-Asn-Ala-Gly- Asn-Ala-Ala-Ser-Ile-Pro(70)-Ser-Lys-Cys-Gly-Val-Ser-Val-Pro-Tyr-Thr(80)- Ile-Ser-Ala-Ser-Ile-Asp-Cys-Ser-Arg-Val-Ser(91).     

Amino acid sequence of the carboxy-terminal end of human erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

Human erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity by a simplified procedure, consisting of 2',5'-ADP-Sepharose affinity chromatography, followed by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. The carboxy-terminal region of the protein was identified by carboxypeptidase digestion: the sequence -Lys-Leu-COOH was found instead of the reported -Gly-COOH, thus showing identity with the carboxy-terminal sequence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from human leukocytes and platelets. In addition, the carboxyl-terminal peptide was isolated from a tryptic digest of the protein and sequenced. The sequence is: Trp-Val-Asp-Pro-His-Lys-Leu.     

Additivity-based design of the strongest possible turkey ovomucoid third domain inhibitors for porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) and Streptomyces griseus protease B (SGPB)

We describe here successful designs of strong inhibitors for porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) and Streptomyces griseus protease B (SGPB). For each enzyme two inhibitor variants were designed. In one, the reactive site residue (position 18) was retained and the best residues were substituted at contact positions 13, 14, and 15. In the other variant the best residues were substituted at all contact positions except the reactive site where a Gly was substituted. The four designed variants were: for PPE, T¹³E¹⁴Y¹⁵-OMTKY3 and T¹³E¹⁴Y¹⁵G¹⁸M²¹P³²V³⁶-OMTKY3, and for SGPB, S¹³D¹⁴Y¹⁵-OMTKY3 and S¹³D¹⁴Y¹⁵G¹⁸I¹⁹K²¹-OMTKY3. The free energies of association (ΔG⁰) of expressed variants have been measured with the proteases for which they were designed as well as with five other serine proteases and the results are discussed.     

The hetero-oligomeric complex of the S100A8/S100A9 protein is extremely protease resistant

S100A8, S100A9 and S100A12 proteins are associated with inflammation and tissue remodelling, both processes known to be associated with high protease activity. Here, we report that homo-oligomeric forms of S100A8 and S100A9 are readily degraded by proteases, but that the preferred hetero-oligomeric S100A8/A9 complex displays a high resistance even against proteinase K degradation. S100A12 is not as protease resistant as the S100A8/A9 complex. Since specific functions have been assigned to the homo- and heterooligomeric forms of the S100A8 and A9 proteins, this finding may point to a post-translational level of regulation of the various functions of these proteins in inflammation and tissue remodelling.     

Enzymatic properties of a novel highly active and chelator resistant protease from a Pseudomonas aeruginosa PD100

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PD100 capable of producing an extracellular protease was isolated from the soil collected from local area (garbage site) from Shivage market in Pune, India. The purified protease showed a single band on native and SDS-PAGE with a molecular weight of 36 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH value and temperature range were found to be 8 and 55–60 °C, respectively. The enzyme exhibited broad range of substrate specificity with higher activity for collagen. The enzyme was inhibited with low concentration of Ag²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺. β-Mercaptoethanol was able to inactivate the enzyme at 2.5 mM, suggesting that disulfide bond(s) play a critical role in the enzyme activity. Studies with inhibitors showed that different classes of protease inhibitors, known to inhibit specific proteases, could not inhibit the activity of this protease. Amino acid modification studies data and pK_a values showed that Cys, His and Trp were involved in the protease activity. P. aeruginosa PD100 produces one form of protease with some different properties as compared to other reported proteases from P. aeruginosa strains. With respect to properties of the purified protease such as pH optimum, temperature stability with capability to degrade different proteins, high stability in the presences of detergents and chemicals, and metal ions independency, suggesting that it has great potential for different applications.     

Heparin is a major activator of the anticoagulant serpin, protein Z-dependent protease inhibitor

Protein Z-dependent protease inhibitor (ZPI) is a recently identified member of the serpin superfamily that functions as a cofactor-dependent regulator of blood coagulation factors Xa and XIa. Here we provide evidence that, in addition to the established cofactors, protein Z, lipid, and calcium, heparin is an important cofactor of ZPI anticoagulant function. Heparin produced 20-100-fold accelerations of ZPI reactions with factor Xa and factor XIa to yield second order rate constants approaching the physiologically significant diffusion limit (k(a) = 10(6) to 10(7) M(-1) s(-1)). The dependence of heparin accelerating effects on heparin concentration was bell-shaped for ZPI reactions with both factors Xa and XIa, consistent with a template-bridging mechanism of heparin rate enhancement. Maximal accelerations of ZPI-factor Xa reactions required calcium, which augmented the heparin acceleration by relieving Gla domain inhibition as previously shown for heparin bridging of the antithrombin-factor Xa reaction. Heparin acceleration of both ZPI-protease reactions was optimal at heparin concentrations and heparin chain lengths comparable with those that produce physiologically significant rate enhancements of other serpin-protease reactions. Protein Z binding to ZPI minimally affected heparin rate enhancements, indicating that heparin binds to a distinct site on ZPI and activates ZPI in its physiologically relevant complex with protein Z. Taken together, these results suggest that whereas protein Z, lipid, and calcium cofactors promote ZPI inhibition of membrane-associated factor Xa, heparin activates ZPI to inhibit free factor Xa as well as factor XIa and therefore may play a physiologically and pharmacologically important role in ZPI anticoagulant function.     

Gene 67, a new,essential bacteriophage T4 head gene codes for a prehead core component,PIP: I. Genetic mapping and DNA sequence

A new bacteriophage T4 gene has been identified and located between genes 20 and 21. This gene codes for PIP, a component of the prehead core and precursor to one of the two species of small, acidic peptides found inside the mature phage head. We have determined the DNA sequence of the gene. Both the DNA sequence and the amino acid sequence derived from it are unusual, and between them explain why suppressor-sensitive mutations in the gene have not been found using classical mutagenesis. The codon usage in this gene is highly non-random. In the accompanying paper we show that PIP is essential for T4 growth and assign its gene a number. 67, to indicate that fact.     

阿维菌素B1a组分高产菌株的定向选育

以阿维链霉菌(Streptomyces avermitilis)1-17为出发菌株,分别使用紫外线及亚硝基胍并结合L-异亮氨酸诱导手段进行诱变处理,得到AVMB1a组分摇瓶发酵水平较出发菌株提高12.86%的突变株3-6.传代实验表明该菌株的高产性能稳定.结果表明,采用UV、NTG诱变结合L-Ile诱导的手段可以获得B1a组分显著提高的菌株.     

Hemoglobins of the tadpole of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana. Amino acid sequence of the alpha chain of a major component

The complete amino acid sequence has been determined for the alpha chain of component III of the hemoglobin of the tadpole of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana. The chain comprises 141 residues of which 80 (57%) are identical to those in the corresponding positions of the human chain. Almost the same extent of similarity exists in the comparison with the sequenced part of the alpha chain of the adult bullfrog. The major features of this chain are: 1) each residue which is common to all other alpha chains of known sequence is also found in this alpha chain; 2) an acetylated NH2 terminus prevents formation of one of the salt bridges found in human hemoglobin which is responsible for part of the alkaline Bohr effect in mammalian hemoglobins; and 3) a prolyl residue at alpha 99 (G6) must distort the G helix.     

Amino acid sequence of ferredoxin from Arctium lappa

Ferredoxin from Arctium lappa consists of a single polypeptide chain of 97 residues, four of which are cysteine. These residues, which are in the active centre, are in identical positions to those of other ferredoxins. Overlap between residue positions 50/51 was not obtained, but amino acid composition of the two cyanogen bromide fragments which were overlapped corresponded with the amino acid composition of the total protein.     

Chlorophyll isolation,structure and function: major landmarks of the early history of research in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union

This paper covers major events of the early history of chlorophyll research in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union from 1771 until 1952, when the modern period of studies on photosynthesis began in full swing. Short biographical sketches of key scientists, reviews of their major research contributions and some selected photographs are included. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Structure of the antitumor protein neocarzinostatin. Amino acid sequence

The amino acid sequence of the antitumor protein neocarzinostatin has been proposed, as shown in Fig. 7, by sequence analysis of tryptic peptides and fragments obtained by digestion of the protein with chymotrypsin, pepsin, acid protease, and dilute hydrochloric acid. Neocarzinostatin consists of 109 amino acid residues and its molecular weight, calculated from the proposed structure, is 10,717.     

Amino acid sequence of a ferredoxin from Rhodymenia palmata, a red alga in the florideophyceae

The amino acid sequence of a [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin from a red alga, Rhodymenia palmata in the family Florideophyceae, was determined by conventional methods. The ferredoxin is composed of 97 amino acid residues having five cysteines, but lacking methionine and tryptophan. It possesses a number of structural features of particular interest. The amino acid sequence is compared with those previously determined for ferredoxins from two red algae in the family Bangiophyceae. Conclusions from a comparison of the structures, by noting features such as the presence of gaps in the sequences and by constructing a phylogenetic tree, were consistent with the proposed taxonomic relationship among these algae.     

Dianthramides A and B,two N-benzoylanthranilic acid derivatives from elicited tissues of Dianthus caryophyllus

Two new phenolic derivatives, dianthramide A and B, were isolated from Dianthus caryophyllus tissues elicited with mycelial extracts of Phytophthora parasitica. The purified substances were identified on the basis of their spectral data and were characterized as N-salicyl-4-methoxyanthranilic acid (dianthramide A) and N-salicyl-4-hydroxyanthranilic acid methyl ester (dianthramide B). Dianthramides A and B co-occur in carnation tissues with the known phytoalexin dianthalexin.     

Definition of the site of reactivity of the ancestral protease of the papain type

Digestions of oxidized insulin B chain by the sulfhydryl proteases papain, chymopapain, papaya peptidase A, actinidin, bromelain, ficin and asclepains     

The use of performic acid oxidation to facilitate differential staining of epoxy-embedded adenohypophysis

Summary Preoxidation with performic acid facilitated the differential staining of 1–2 thick sections of water-insoluble Durcupan (Swiss Araldite)-embedded adenohypophysis. Alcian blue-PAS-Orange G and aldehyde fuchsin-Orange G staining procedures were used. Except for increases in staining times, these procedures were unmodified from those previously reported for paraffin sections. These techniques permit the light microscopic recognition of two groups of basophils and two groups of acidophils in thick sections cut adjacent to thin sections for electron microscopy.     

半导体激光光针(650nm,10mW)对高血压大鼠(SHR)血压及脑血流(rCBF)影响的初步观察

本工作采用了半导体激光器650nm,10mW,CW,对自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）进行“穴位”外照射同时采用了氢清除法组织血流测定仪监测大鼠大脑海马区的脑血流量变化。结果提示光照“扶突”穴5min后,海马脑血流量由原39．04ml下降至30．53ml（n＝14）。在7／14只鼠中测得血压均值,分别为照射前109．57±29．79mmHg,照射后91.28±27．04mmHg（n＝7）。提示其血流量的下降可能与高血压鼠血压的下降有关．在同时光照人中,禾两穴,结果发现亦有类似的上述效应．若不予光照,间隔1小时后进行测定,发现基本与1小时前相仿,提示光照“扶突”穴确有下降的趋向。