Lipopolysaccharide interaction with lysozyme. Binding of lipopolysaccharide to lysozyme and inhibition of lysozyme enzymatic activity

Experiments have been carried out to characterize the binding of lysozyme (LZM) to bacteriol lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The formation of LPS.LZM complexes can be readily demonstrated using either physical-chemical separation techniques or a radiolabeled photoaffinity LPS probe. The binding affinity of LZM for LPS has been estimated to be approximately 10(8) liters/mol. Binding of LPS results in loss of LZM enzymatic activity by a noncompetitive inhibition, as assessed by either particulate or soluble substrates. This interaction of LPS with LZM is dictated primarily by hydrophobic interactions and appears to be a general property of both constituents. Binding can be demonstrated with LZM of both human and avian sources, as well as with LPS isolated from a variety of Gram-negative organisms. The addition of LPS to biologically relevant fluids containing LZM results in dose-dependent inhibition of LZM enzymatic activity suggesting that such interactions may have relevance in Gram-negative infections. Finally LZM has been shown to reduce the endotoxic activity of LPS as assessed by gelation of Limulus amoebocyte lysates.     

Calf rennet lysozyme.

A glycosidase displaying endo-N-acetylmuramoylhydrolase specificity (EC 3.2.1.17) was isolated from calf rennet. This lysozyme was also present in abomasal secretions from calf and adult cattle. Multiple molecular forms revealed by electrofocusing might be artefacts. The main enzyme form had Mr approx. 15 000, pH optimum 5.0, pI7.5, and a remarkable conformation stability. Competitive inhibition was observed with both N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid, with apparent Ki values of 29 mM and 2.4 mM respectively. The isolated enzyme also displayed significant chitinase activity.     

Heparin-binding properties of lactoferrin and lysozyme.

1. Binding of biotin-heparin to immobilized lactoferrin and lysozyme was optimum at pH 6.0, 100 mM NaCl. Complex interactions between NaCl and CaCl2 concentrations were observed for heparin binding to both proteins. 2. The metal ions Cu2+, Zn2+, Fe2+ and Fe3+ inhibited heparin binding, with half-maximal inhibition of binding to lactoferrin occurring between 600 microM and 1 mM and for lysozyme between 500 and 800 microM. 3. Binding of biotin-heparin to both proteins was inhibited to varying degrees by heparin, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate A, dextran sulfate and DNA.     

The lysozyme of the starfish Asterias rubens. A paradygmatic type i lysozyme.

On the basis of a partial N-terminal sequence, Jollès and Jollès previously proposed that the lysozyme from the starfish Asterias rubens represents a new form of lysozyme, called type i (invertebrate) lysozyme. Indeed, it differed from both the types c (chicken) and g (goose) known in other animals, as well as from plant and phage lysozymes. Recently, several proteins belonging to the same family have been isolated from protostomes. Here we report the complete mature protein sequence and cDNA sequence of the lysozyme from Asterias. These sequences vindicate the previously proposed homology between the starfish, a deuterostome, and protostome lysozymes. In addition, we present a structural analysis that allows us to postulate upon the function of several conserved residues.     

Frog lysozyme III. The effects of metamorphic inhibition on Rana pipiens lysozyme ontogeny.

The inhibition of Rana pipiens metamorphosis by thiouracil altered the ontogeny of lysozyme. Certain isozymes of the enzyme remained absent. There was, nevertheless, an increase in tissue lysozyme concentration.     

Studies on biotransformation of lysozyme. III. Comparative studies on biotransformation of exogenous and endogenous lysozyme in rats.

Exogenous hen lysozyme or endogenous rat lysozyme labeled with 131I was intravenously injected to rats with the same dosage, respectively, and the uptake and degradation of injected 131I-labeled rat lysozyme in liver and kidney were studied in comparison with those of 131I-labeled hen lysozyme. 1. Although the serum levels of both enzymes injected were almost indentical during the first 6 h, the liver uptake of 131I-labeled hen lysozyme was 2.2-fold more than that of 131I-labeled rat lysozyme at the peak time of 5 min after injection. The uptake and clearance of 131I-labeled rat lysozyme in the kidney were exclusively slow as compared with those of 131I-labeled hen lysozyme. 2. The intracellular distribution in the liver and kidney were examined by the differential centrifugation after injection of each lysozyme. The protein-bound radioactivity of each subcellular fraction was found to be the highest in the 12 000 X g (10 min) fraction in the liver and the 19 600 X g (20 min) fraction in the kidney. The relative specific activity of 12 000 X g fraction of the liver after injection increased with the time lapse. On the other hand, the relative specific activity of 105 000 X g (1 h) fraction of the liver attained a maximum within 5 min after injection and thereafter decreased. It was assumed that the mechanism of the uptake of injected 131I-labeled rat lysozyme in the liver and kidney was similar to that of 131I-labeled hen lysozyme. 3. The degradation of exogenous or endogenous lysozyme in subcellular particles was examined. From the effect of pH, activator and inhibitor on the degradation, the proteolytic enzyme to degrade the injected 131I-labeled hen lysozyme was indicated to be mainly cathepsin BL, with the optimal pH of about 5.0, and the injected 131I-labeled rate lysozyme was mainly degraded by cathepsin D, with the optimal pH of about 3.5 The in vitro degradation of exogenous and endogenous lysozymes showed a tendency similar to the in vivo clearance from the liver and kidney.     

Additional binding sites in lysozyme. X-ray analysis of lysozyme complexes with bromophenol red and bromophenol blue.

The binding sites in hen egg-white lysozyme for neutral bromophenol red (BPR) and ionized bromophenol blue (BPB) have been characterized at 2 A resolution. In either case, the dye-bound enzyme is active against the polysaccharide, but not against the cell wall. Both binding sites are outside, but close to, the hexasaccharide binding cleft in the enzyme. The binding site of BPR made up of Arg5, Lys33, Phe34, Asn37, Phe38, Ala122, Trp123 and possibly Arg125, is close to subsite F while that of BPB made up of Tyr20, Arg21, Asn93, Lys96, Lys97 and Ser100, is close to subsites A and B. The binding sites of the neutral dye and the ionized dye are thus spatially far apart. The peptide component of the bacterial cell wall probably interacts with these cells during enzyme action. Such interactions are perhaps necessary for appropriately positioning the enzyme molecule on the bacterial cell wall.     

Proton pathways in lysozyme.

Protonic conduction studies are reported for lysozyme as a function of the number of bound water molecules. Lysozyme samples employing proton-injecting palladium black electrodes exhibited conductivities up to eight orders of magnitude greater than those retained between control (copper) electrodes. The results indicate that water involved in multiple hydrogen bond contact with the enzyme together with hydrogen bonded segments of the enzyme structure provide a hydrogen bond network which is capable of supporting considerable protonic conduction.     

Titration study of acetylated lysozyme.

To study the interaction between carboxyl groups and amino groups in native lysozyme [EC 3.2.1.17], and to identify the positions and the pK values of the abnormal carboxyl groups, N-acetylated lysozyme was prepared. The acetylation did not affect the molecular shape of the enzyme, but changed six amino groups to a non-ionizable form, leaving one amino group free; this was determined to be Lys 33. In addition, pH titration of the acetylated lysozyme in 0.2 or 0.02 M KCl aqueous solution indicated fewer titratable groups with pK(int) of 7.8 or 10.4 compared with the native protein, though the number of titratable carboxyl groups was not affected by the acetylation. From the pH titration results and structural considerations, the unititratable carboxyl groups were suggested to be Asp 48, Asp 66, and Asp 87. On the other hand, spectrophotometric titration in 0.2 M KCl showed that all three tyrosine residues are titratable in the acetylated protein, although an abnormal tyrosine residue exists in the native state. Tyr 20 was suggested to be untitratable in the pH range of 8-12.6.     

Spin-label assay for lysozyme.

A spin-label assay for lysozyme, which is based on the enzymatic hydrolysis of spin-labeled peptidoglycan, is described. Hydrolysis of this polymer by lysozyme results in sharpening of the esr spectrum. The rate of spectral sharpening is a function of enzyme concentration. When the activities of hen egg-white and human lysozymes are compared by this method, human lysozyme is 3.5 times as active as the hen enzyme. The pH optima for both enzymes are pH 5.0. At this pH, the maximal activity for the hen egg-white lysozyme is observed at an ionic strength of 0.09. This assay is suitable for measuring lysozyme levels in biological fluids. It is a sensitive, continuous assay that measures muramidase activity on a defined substrate.