The primary structure of the COOH-terminal half of cholera toxin subunit A1 containing the ADP-ribosylation site

The sequence of 96 amino acid residues from the COOH-terminus of the active subunit of cholera toxin, A₁, has been determined as PheAsnValAsnAspVal LeuGlyAlaTyrAlaProHisProAsxGluGlu GluValSerAlaLeuGlyGly IleProTyrSerGluIleTyrGlyTrpTyrArg ValHisPheGlyValLeuAsp GluGluLeuHisArgGlyTyrArgAspArgTyr TyrSerAsnLeuAspIleAla ProAlaAlaAspGlyTyrGlyLeuAlaGlyPhe ProProGluHisArgAlaTrp ArgGluGluProTrpIleHisHisAlaPro ProGlyCysGlyAsnAlaProArg(OH). This is the largest fragment obtained by BrCN cleavage of the subunit A₁ (M_r 23,000), and has previously been indicated to contain the active site for the adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity. Unequivocal identification of the COOH-terminal structure was achieved by separation and analysis of the terminal peptide after the specific chemical cleavage at the only cysteine residue in A₁ polypeptide. The site of self ADP-ribosylation in the A₁ subunit [C. Y. Lai, Q.-C. Xia, and P. T. Salotra (1983) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.116, 341–348] has now been identified as Arg-50 of this peptide, 46 residues removed from the COOH-terminus. The cysteine that forms disulfide bridge to A₂ subunit in the holotoxin is at position 91.     

Beef liver esterase. II. Kinetic properties

The kinetic parameters, k_cat and K_M, in beef liver esterase-catalyzed hydrolysis were determined for about 100 substrates, which can be classified in several groups: (1) In the ethyl ester series of fatty acids K_M decreases with elongation of the acid, while k_cat has a maximum value with pentanoate. (2) Alkyl acetates are better substrates as the alkyl moiety is longer, whereas esters with branched alkyl groups become worse substrates. (3) Aryl esters are very good substrates. (4) Esters of dicarboxylic acids are good substrates, but only one ester group is cleaved by the enzyme. Fumarate diester is susceptible to esterase hydrolysis, while maleate is not. (5) Esters of hydrophobic amino acids are very good substrates; the enzyme is not stereoselective and both the l and d stereoisomers are readily hydrolyzed. Branching at the β-carbon atom leads to loss of activity, and blocking of the amino group abolishes it. Fluoride ion and dl-malate esters are potent competitive inhibitors of the enzymic reaction. The optimal pH was found to lie between 8 and 8.5. The reaction rate increased between 5 and 40 °C then dropped sharply. The activity decreased at high salt concentration.     

NH2-terminal sequences of DNA-, heparin-, and gelatin-binding tryptic fragments from human plasma fibronectin

NH₂-terminal sequence analysis was performed on subregions of human plasma fibronectin including 24,000-dalton (24K) DNA-binding, 29,000-dalton (29K) gelatin-binding, and 18,000-dalton (18K) heparin-binding tryptic fragments. These fragments were obtained from fibronectin after extensive trypsin digestion followed by sequential affinity purification on gelatin-Sepharose, heparin-agarose, and DNA-cellulose columns. The gelatin-binding fragment was further purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, and the DNA-binding and heparin-binding fragments were further purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The 29K fragment had the following NH₂-terminal sequence: AlaAlaValTyrGlnProGlnProHisProGlnProPro (Pro)TyrGlyHis HisValThrAsp(His)(Thr)ValValTyrGly(Ser) ?(Ser)?-Lys. The NH₂-terminal sequence of a 50K, gelatin-binding, subtilisin fragment by L. I. Gold, A. Garcia-Pardo, B. Prangione, E. C. Franklin, and E. Pearlstein (1979, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA76, 4803–4807) is identical to positions 3–19 (with the exception of some ambiguity at position 14) of the 29K fragment. These data strongly suggest that the 29K tryptic fragment is included in the 50K subtilisin fragment, and that subtilisin cleaves fibronectin between the Ala²Val³ residues of the 29K tryptic fragment. The 18K heparin-binding fragment had the following NH₂-terminal sequence: (Glu)AlaProGlnProHisCysIleSerLysTyrIle LeuTyrTrpAspProLysAsnSerValGly?(Pro) LysGluAla?(Val)(Pro). The 29K gelatin-binding and 18K heparin-binding fragments have proline-rich NH₂-terminal sequences suggesting that they may have arisen from protease-sensitive, random coil regions of fibronectin corresponding to interdomain regions preceding macromolecular-binding domains. Both of these fragments contain the identical sequence ProGlnProHis, a sequence which may be repeated in other interdomain regions of fibronectin. The 24K DNA-binding fragment has the following NH₂-terminal sequence: SerAspThrValProSerProCysAspLeuGlnPhe ValGluValThrAspVal LysValThrIleMetTrpThrProProGluSerAla ValThrGlyTyrArgVal AspValCysProValAsnLeuProGlyGluHisGly Gln(Cys)LeuProIleSer. The sequence of positions 9–22 are homologous to positions 15–28 of the α chain of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli. The homology observed suggests that this stretch of amino acids may be a DNA-binding site.     

An unusual allantoinase from Dolichos biflorus

An unusual allantoinase from Dolichos biflorus has been purified 62-fold. The purified enzyme has an unusual pH activity profile with a shoulder at pH 4 and a peak at pH 7.5. This is due to a single enzyme which does not need metal ions for activation. In the fully reduced state the enzyme exhibits a single sharp peak at 7.5; when it is not in the sulfhydryl form (in the fully oxidized SS form?) the enzyme shows a single pH optimum at pH 4. K_m values for (±)-allantoin were 5.5 mM at pH 4 and 1.43 mM at pH 7.5. Allantoinase activity has been demonstrated in the resting seed, and increased linearly with time during the first 5 days of seedling growth.     

Circular dichroism spectra of bradykinin analogs containing β-homoamino acids

The CD spectra of β-homoprolyl⁷-bradykinin (βHProB) and β-homophenylalanyl⁸-bradykinin (βHPheB) were compared to those of bradykinin. The spectra were analyzed in terms of models that have been proposed for the solution conformation of bradykinin. Cann $\text{et al}$. (1) proposed 3 → 1 hydrogen-bonding across Pro³, Pro⁷ and Phe⁸ in bradykinin, as shown by a 234 nm trough in the CD. The extra CH₂ groups in the chains of the two bradykinin analogs would be expected to facilitate the proposed hydrogen-bonding, but in the case of βHProB the 234 nm trough is eliminated, and is reduced in magnitude for βHPheB. Ivanov $\text{et al}$. (2) proposed a cyclic conformation for bradykinin, stabilized by ionic attraction between the side-chain of Arg¹ and the carboxylate terminal. The extra CH₂ groups of these two analogs would be expected to increase the stability of such a conformation, and there was some evidence that the ionic effects on the CD spectra of the two analogs were different from those on the bradykinin spectra. Alternatively, the effects could be attributed to cis-trans isomerizations around the prolyl peptide bonds.     

Differential rates of proton exchange for the guanidinium nitrogens of L-arginine determined by natural-abundance nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Differential rates of NH proton-exchange reactions have been determined for the guanidinium nitrogens of l-arginine, $\text{1}\text{?}$, in the pH range of 0.5 to 11.5 by natural-abundance nitrogen-15 NMR spectroscopy. Base-catalyzed NH proton exchange of the NH group is found to be two times faster than for the guanidino NH₂ groups. The results can be rationalized by consideration of the contributions of various valence-bond structures to the resonance hybrid of $\text{1}\text{?}$.     

Synthesis and stereochemistry of new cobalt azo-nitroso complexes

Synthesis and characterization of new cobalt-substituted phenylazo 2,4-dinitrosoresorcinol complexes have been carried out. The analytical data depict the formation of complex compounds with the stoichiometry 2:3 (o-COOH, m-NO₂) and 1:2 (o-Cl, o-CH₃, m-Cl, m-CH₃). All the complexes are of low spin in octahedral and square planar or distorted tetrahedral environments. The octahedral ⇄ tetrahedral equilibria are evident. The complexes in the presence of basic compounds gave some addition products. The electronic transitions and the ligand field parameters are assigned and calculated. The complex formation occurred through the azo group and the phenolic oxygen atom in most complexes. In the o-carboxy ligand, the COO⁻, NN and the oximic groups participate through complexation.     

Isolation and partial characterization of esters of trehalose from Corynebacterium ovis (C. pseudotuberculosis)

A glycolipid fraction was isolated from Corynebacterium ovis (C. pseudotuberculosis). It had [α]_D²⁵ = + 63.2° (C = 0.5, CHCl₃) and m.p. 43–46°C; the sugar content was 26%, determined as trehalose. Alkaline hydrolysis of the isolated fraction found trehalose as the sole water-soluble component, while glucose was found only after acid hydrolysis of the aqueous phase. Saturated and unsaturated short-chain mycolic acids with carbon atoms ranging from C₃₀ to C₃₆ were the constituents of the fatty acid moiety. The glycolipid fraction of C. ovis is therefore assumed to be a mixture of trehalose esters in which the trehalose molecule is esterified by saturated and unsaturated short-chain (C₃₀–C₃₆) mycolic acids.     

Chloroplast and cytoplasmic enzymes 1, 2, 3. Subunit structure of pea leaf aldolases.

The pea leaf chloroplastic and cytoplasmic forms of aldolase are very similar in structure. The subunit molecular weights determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate are approximately 37.000. Both aldolases appear to terminate in the same sequence, SerAlaTyrCOOH, and the amino-terminal sequence H₂NGlySerTyrAla was obtained for each. The previously reported differences in kinetic properties and in isoelectric points of the two pea leaf enzymes probably are the consequence of minor differences in amino acid composition or conformation.     

The SGNH-hydrolase of Streptomyces coelicolor has (aryl)esterase and a true lipase activity

The Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) gene SCI11.14c was overexpressed and purified as a His-tagged protein from heterologous host, Streptomyces lividans. The purification procedure resulted in 34.1-fold increase in specific activity with an overall yield of 21.4%. Biochemical and physical properties of the purified enzyme were investigated and it was shown that it possesses (aryl)esterase and a true lipase activity. The enzyme was able to hydrolyze p-nitrophenyl-, α- and β-naphthyl esters and poly(oxyethylene) sorbitan monoesters (Tween 20–80). It showed pronounced activity towards p-nitrophenyl and α- and β-naphthyl esters of C₁₂–C₁₆. Higher activity was observed with α-naphthyl esters. The enzyme hydrolyzed triolein (specific activity: 91.9 U/mg) and a wide range of oils with a preference for those having higher content of linoleic or oleic acid (C18:2; C18:1, cis). The active-site serine specific inhibitor 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (DCI) strongly inhibited the enzyme, while tetrahydrofurane and 1,4-dioxane significantly increased (2- and 4- fold, respectively) hydrolytic activity of lipase towards p-nitrophenyl caprylate. The enzyme exhibited relatively high temperature optimum (55 °C) and thermal stability. CD analysis revealed predominance of α-helical structure (54% α-helix, 21% β-sheet) and a T_m value at 66 °C.     

Extremely Stable and Versatile Carboxylesterase from a Hyperthermophilic Archaeon

We have found that the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrobaculum calidifontis VA1 produced a thermostable esterase. We isolated and sequenced the esterase gene (est_Pc) from strain VA1. est_Pc consisted of 939 bp, corresponding to 313 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 34,354 Da. As est_Pc showed significant identity (30%) to mammalian hormone-sensitive lipases (HSLs), esterase of P. calidifontis (Est) could be regarded as a new member of the HSL family. Activity levels of the enzyme were comparable or higher than those of previously reported enzymes not only at high temperature (6,410 U/mg at 90°C), but also at ambient temperature (1,050 U/mg at 30°C). The enzyme displayed extremely high thermostability and was also stable after incubation with various water-miscible organic solvents at a concentration of 80%. The enzyme also exhibited activity in the presence of organic solvents. Est of P. calidifontis showed higher hydrolytic activity towards esters with short to medium chains, with p-nitrophenyl caproate (C₆) the best substrate among the p-nitrophenyl esters examined. As for the alcoholic moiety, the enzyme displayed esterase activity towards esters with both straight- and branched-chain alcohols. Most surprisingly, we found that this Est enzyme hydrolyzed the tertiary alcohol ester tert-butyl acetate, a feature very rare among previously reported lipolytic enzymes. The extreme stability against heat and organic solvents, along with its activity towards a tertiary alcohol ester, indicates a high potential for the Est of P. calidifontis in future applications.     

A quantitating reagent for methanethiolation of protein sulfhydryl groups

p-Nitrophenoxycarbonyl methyl disulfide has been synthesized for use as a quantitating agent for methanethiolation of protein sulfhydryl groups. This reagent reacts specifically and quantitatively with cysteine residues of proteins to yield an unsymmetrical disulfide containing a CH₃S group and concomitantly releases the chromophore, p-nitrophenol. Titration of the sulfhydryl groups of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.12) with this reagent has been studied. Incorporation of CH₃S as measured by the release of p-nitrophenol paralleled the loss of sulfhydryl group dependent activity of the enzyme. The enzyme was found inactive on modification of four of the eight sulfhydryl groups present in the enzyme. Stability of p-nitrophenoxycarbonyl methyl disulfide has also been studied in different buffer systems. The rate of decomposition of the p-nitrophenyl ester due to hydrolysis was found negligible below a pH of 8.0 compared to its rate of reaction with free sulfhydryl groups.     

The strucrure of trans-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl methyl acetoacetate,and the interpretation of its optical rotations

Crystal-structure determination of trans-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl methyl acetoacetate, C₁₁H₁₈O₈, m.p. 186°, confirmed the trans orientation deduced previously from physical properties. The conformation of the D-glucopyranosyl group is ⁴C₁, although the most symmetrical chair-conformer is actually ³C_o. The glycosidic link is sc, with a CO anomeric bond of 1.428 Å (142.8 pm), i.e. longer than is normal in methyl β-glycopyranosides. All of the hydrogen bonding is intermolecular. The unusual optical rotations in solution can be interpreted in terms of rotameric populations that are derived from the solid-state conformers and are stabilized by intramolecular or solvent hydrogen-bonding.     

Dioxouranium(VI) thiocyanate complexes of schiff bases of p-nitro,chloro, bromo,hydroxy and methoxy aniline and salicylaldehyde

A series of dioxouranium(VI) complexes was synthesised with some Schiff base ligands containing substituent groups at para positions to CHN groups. These molecules were obtained by the condensation of para-nitro, chloro, bromo, hydroxy, methyl and methoxy aniline with salicylaldehyde. The bidentate ligands formed complexes of the type UO₂(NCS)₂ (X-N-Sal)_n·mH₂O, where n = 2, m = 3, x = NO₂, Cl, Br and OH; n = 3, m = 2, x = CH₃ and OCH₃.Conductivity measurements indicate that all the complexes are non-electrolytes in nitromethane solution, whereas in DMF they correspond to 1:1 electrolytes.IR spectral data suggest that the molecules and not the anions of the Schiff base are coordinated to the central uranium atom. IR and Raman spectra suggest that the complexes UO₂(NCS)₂(X-N-Sal)₂· 3H₂O (X = NO₂, Cl, Br) have C_2h molecular symmetry, whereas UO₂(NCS)₂(X-N-Sal)₃·2H₂O (X = OCH₃, CH₃) have C_2v symmetry.The frequencies of UO_2(asym) (IR) and UO_2(sym) (R) in the complexes seem to vary with the various substituents of the Schiff base ligand, in the order:NO₂ > Cl > Br > OH > CH₃ > OCH₃     

Solid state structure and reactivity in solution. 8. Implications of the structure of [1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane] tetra-carbonylmolybdenum(0) to the chelate effect

The structure of (diphos)Mo(CO)₄ (diphos=1,2- bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) has been determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The crystals are orthorhombic with a=22.600(8), b=16.799(4) and c=14.587(4) Å, space group Pbca, D_calc.=1.45 g cm⁻³ and Z=8. The structure was solved by the Patterson technique and refined by full-matrix least- squares methods to R=0.044 using 2206 reflections measured on a four-circle diffractometer. The coordination about the central molybdenum atom is a distorted octahedron, the greatest deviation from ideal geometry being the P1-Mo-P2 angle (80.2(1)°). Other distortions are induced through steric interaction between the phenyl and the carbonyl groups. The structure of (diphos)Mo(CO)4 is compared to that previously reported for cis- (MePh₂P)₂Mo(CO)₄; the two molecules differ only that two methyl groups of the latter complex are replaced by the CH₂CH₂ backbone in the former. The influence of this difference is discussed both in terms of molecular distortions induced by the presence of the chelate ring and their influence on reactivity via chelate ring-opening and -closure.     

The coordination chemistry of bidentate tellurium ligands. I. Complexes of palladium,platinum, and mercury with large chelate rings

Complexes formed from the reaction of palladium(II) and platinum(II) halides with (p-EtO·C₆H₄)Te(CH₂)_nTe(C₆H₄OEt-p) (Lⁿ, n = 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) are reported together with data for some mercury(II) complexes, [HgLⁿCl₂] which are used for comparative purposes. The compounds [MLⁿX₂] (M  Pd, Pt; n = 7, 8 (Pt only), 9, 10; X  Cl, Br) have molecular weights in molten naphthalene which fluctuate about the monomer value. [ML⁶X₂] (M  Pd, Pt; X  Cl, Br) are totally insoluble and are believed to be polymeric. The palladium(II) complexes have trans dichloro groups whereas the platinum compounds show cis dichloro groups in the solid state.¹³C NMR spectra are valuable to confirm the coordination of the ligand; the methylene resonance of the TeCH₂ group undergoes a 19–20 ppm downfield shift on coordination. ¹²⁵Te NMR spectra of the Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes show two broad resonances the chemical shifts of which imply the presence of cis and trans isomers in CDCl₃ solution. A more detailed variable temperature high field study of [PtL⁸Cl₂] (¹²⁵Te and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR) reveals a complex solution chemistry involving at least two cis and two trans species. The temperature range over which the solution is stable (−10 to 70 °C) is insufficient to allow a totally unambiguous interpretation but a model based on monomer ⇍ dimer equilibria provides a self consistent interpretation.     

Fatty acid esters of testosterone in rat brain: identification, distribution, and some properties of enzymes which synthesize and hydrolyze the esters

[4-¹⁴C]Testosterone was converted to an unknown compound with a much higher R_f on thin layer chromatogram than the substrate when it was incubated with a rat brain microsomal preparation. Evidence from its mass, infrared, and ultraviolet spectra indicated that the enzymic product is a mixture of fatty acid esters of testosterone. Saponification of the product yielded testosterone and a mixture of C_12:0, C_14:0, C_16:0, C_18:0, and C_18:1 fatty acids. The enzymic product was identical to testosterone laurate and testosterone stearate which were synthesized chemically. The enzyme system had a pH optimum at 4.9 with acetate buffer. The apparent K_m was 8.3 × 10^?5m for testosterone and 5.0 × 10^?5m for palmityl CoA. An enzyme which hydrolyzes testosterone[1-¹⁴C]oleate was also detected in rat brain. Most of this activity was in the nuclear and mitochondrial fractions. This enzyme had an optimum pH at 6.5 with phosphate buffer and its apparent K_m was 2.1 × 10^?4m. A low level of synthetic activity was found in fetal brain tissue which increased and reached a maximum at 3 weeks of age. The synthetic activity rapidly decreased with further increase in age. Hydrolytic activity was nearly undetectable in fetal rat brain, increased gradually until the animal reaches 3 weeks old, and remained at this level. Both synthetic and hydrolytic enzyme activities were higher in the brain than in other tissues examined.     

Fatty acid ethyl esters in the liverwort Conocephalum conicum

A series of fatty acid ethyl esters ranging from C₁₄ to C₂₄ was isolated from a hexane extract of the liverwort Conocephalum conicum, these esters accounted for 77% of the extract. The ethyl esters consisting of even-numbered fatty acids were predominant and ethyl palmitate was the major constituent.     

Fatty acids. Part 50. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies of olefinic fatty acids and esters

The ¹³C-NMR spectra of 48 cis alkenoic acids and esters (C₈–C₂₀), 18 trans alkenoic acids and esters (C₉–C₁₈), and 26 polyenoic acids and esters (C₁₈–C₂₂) are reported and interpreted. The characteristic features of such spectra which permit structural assignments to be made are discussed.