Cathepsin D of mouse leukemia L12010 cells unusual intracellular localization and biochemical properties

Mouse leukemia L1210 cells contain lysosomes, but cathepsin D, a typical lysosomal enzyme, has an unusual localization. After fractionation of homogenates of L1210 cells by isopynic density gradient centrifugation, most of the activity for all of the acid hydrolases studied, except cathepsin D, is sedimentable and shows a similar density distribution around a peak having a modal density of 1.16. In contrast, much more of the total activity for cathepsin D is not sedimentable, while the sedimentable activity has a distribution around a peak at a higher density of 1.18.After chromatography on Sephadex G-100 of cell extracts, two molecular weight forms of cathepsin D are found. One has an apparent molecular weight of approx. 45 000, similar to rat liver cathepsin D, while the apparent molecular weight of the second form is approx. 95 000. Both forms are 4–5 times more active than rat liver cathepsin D. The high molecular weight L1210 cathepsin D converts to the low molecular weight form with no loss activity after treatment with β-mercaptoethanol. In all respects the unusual intracellular localization and molecular weight forms of cathepsin D in mouse luekemia L1210 cells are similar to the situation found for rat thoratic duct lymphocytes.     

Isolation, purification and physicochemical properties of glutamin-asparaginase from Pseudomonas boreopolis 526

A new homogeneous enzyme which is capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of both glutamine and asparaginase has been purified from extracts of Pseudomonas boreopolis 526 by the improved method. Purification involves few stages. The ratio of glutaminase to asparaginase activity is approximately 1.5:1.0. The enzyme is stable on storage and has a wide pH optimum of action (6-8.5). The molecular weight is about 134 000-145 000 D and the subunit molecular weight is about 34 000 D. No free SH-groups have been detected in the enzyme molecule.     

Characterization of the terminal degradation products of canine fibrinogen by plasmin.

Fibrinogen, isolated from canine plasma by the successive procedures of (1) freezing and thawing, (2) fractional precipitation with 25% saturated (HN4)2SO4 and (3) Sepharose 6B gel-filtration, had a molecular weight of 282 000 by the rapid sedimentation equilibrium method. However, a molecular weight for canine fibrinogen of 332 000, which is closer to that reported for human and bovine fibrinogens (340 000 plus or minus 20 000), was obtained from the sum of the molecular weights of the Aalpha, Bbeta and gamma chains, determined from dodecylsulfate gel electrophoretic patterns of reduced fibrinogen. Canine fibrinogen, subjected to proteolysis by urokinase-activated plasminogen for 24 h, contained degradation fragments D and E which were isolated by starch block electrophoresis and Sephadex G-200 gel-filtration. The purified D and E fragments with sedimentation coefficients of 5.0 S and 2.5 S had weight average molecular weights of 89 000 and 42 000, respectively by the rapid sedimentation equilibrium method. The ratio of D to E was 2:1 per parent fibrinogen molecule. Antigenic analysis according to anti-fibrinogen antiserum showed that both D and E fragments were antigenically deficient to native fibrinogen and revealed a reaction of non-identity with each other. Upon immunoelectrophoresis at pH 8.2, D and E had different electrophoretic mobilities. Preliminary studies indicate that based on thrombin time alone, D has anticoagulant activity while E appears to be a coagulation potentiator. Canine fibrinogen apparently consist of two core fragments with dissimilar chemical characteristics in common with the fundamental structures of human and bovine fibrinogens.     

灵芝两个无孢品种中水提物成分分析及免疫活性比较

龙芝2号和鹿角灵芝均为赤芝的栽培品种,且在生长发育过程中均不产生孢子。目前,尚缺乏对两者化学成分和药理活性的系统比较研究。本研究以灵芝两个无孢品种——龙芝2号和鹿角灵芝为原料,研究对比两者子实体水提物成分差异及免疫活性的强弱。采用化学及仪器分析相结合的方法,分析两者水提物中的多糖得率、含量、重均分子量分布特征及核苷、蛋白质、氨基酸含量差异,并研究了灵芝两个无孢品种水提物样品刺激RAW 264.7细胞释放NO活性。结果表明,两者多糖得率及含量差异不大,但龙芝2号中重均分子量分布范围较广,多糖分子量较大,其含有3种多糖,分子量分别为2.021×10⁶、1.802×10⁶和4.825×10⁵,而鹿角灵芝中仅含有1种多糖,分子量为1.589×10⁴;两者中含有的核苷种类相似,但各核苷的含量存在差异;鹿角灵芝和龙芝2号中蛋白质含量分别为10.70%和10.32%,两者均不含有组氨酸,蛋氨酸在两者中含量均较高,分别达到2.556%和2.591%。从鹿角灵芝和龙芝2号中得到的水提物样品均具有体外刺激巨噬细胞释放NO的活性。     

The major intracellular alkaline deoxyribonuclease activities expressed in wild-type and Rec-like mutants of Neurospora crassa.

Over 95% of the deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity of log-phase mycelia of Neurospora crassa is expressed as single-strand (ss) specific endonucleolytic activity. This activity is associated with three nucleases (D1, D2, and D3) which after partial purification from extracts, express activity with double-strand (ds) DNA as well. All three enzymes also degrade RNA at approximately the same rates that they degrade ss-DNA. D3 has been identified as endoexonuclease, an enzyme previously shown to have endonuclease activity with ss-DNA and RNA and exonuclease activity with ds-DNA, both of which are inhibited by ATP. D3 is inhibited by ATP, is relatively resistant to p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (PHMB), and sediments with an apparent molecular weight of 75 000. D2 has the properties of the previously described mitochondrial nuclease. It is a relatively unstable Mg2+-dependent endonuclease with no appreciable strand specificity for DNA. In addition, it is not inhibited by ATP and is strongly inhibited by PHMB and by the ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). It also sediments with an apparent molecular weight of 75,000. The properties of D1 are quite variable from one preparation to another. Freshly isolated D1 sediments with an apparent molecular weight of 180 000. It often shows some inhibition by ATP, but is relatively resistant to both PHMB and EDTA. However, on 'ageing,' the properties of D1 gradually convert to those of D2 with concomitant decrease in molecular weight, loss of inhibition by ATP, and increase in sensitivities to PHMB and EDTA. The results indicate that D1 is very likely a second form of the mitochondrial enzyme. Evidence was obtained for the presence of protein inhibitor(s) in crude extracts which may account for the masking of the ds-DNase activities of these enzymes in extracts. Two Rec-like mutants of Neurospora (uvs-3, and nuh-4) are deficient mainly inexpressed levels of D3, the endo-exonuclease. However, the levels of inactive endo-exonuclease precursor in these two mutants are higher than in the wild type. There may, therefore, be some defect in the conversion of precursor to active enzyme in these two mutants. Another mutant, which is not sensitive to mutagens relative to the wild (nuh-3), has depressed levels of both endo-exonuclease and the mitochondrial enzyme. Nuh-3 has some defect in the conversion of D1 to D2. Proteinases probably play some role in vivo in these enzyme conversions.     

Calcification inhibitors in rat and human serum and plasma

Rat and human serum and plasma were shown to contain considerable amounts of calcium phosphate precipitation inhibitors. Two general classes of inhibiting molecules were observed for both species: high molecular weight (approx. 30 000-200 000) and low molecular weight (less than 1000). The high molecular weight components eluted from a Bio-Gel P-200 column in two peaks, one at approx. 158 000 and a broader peak at approx. 43 000. The identity of these inhibitors is unknown at present. Low molecular weight inhibitors include magnesium, pyrophosphate, and citrate ions and at least one unidentified component that coelutes with pyrophosphate and citrate on a Bio-Gel P-4 column. Quantitatively, most of the inhibitor activity resides in the high molecular weight components and it is possible that it is this activity which is responsible for maintaining the metastability of the circulating fluids. The role of the low molecular weight components may be to regulate calcification at sites inaccessible to high molecular weight molecules.     

The purification and characterization of multiple forms of mouse submaxillary gland renin

Five forms of renin, A₀, A, C, D and E, from mouse submaxillary gland were purified by a two-step procedure including chromatography on the immunoaffinity column and CM-cellulose column. Four renin fractions, A₀, A, C and E were purified to homogeneity by the criteria of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, analytical isoelectric focusing and Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion. All these forms of renin have molecular weights of 40 000 as determined by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 column. No high molecular weight renin could be demonstrated. Individual renin fractions showed similar angiotensin I formation activity, 52–158 ng angiotensin I/ng protein per h. No other protease activity could be detected with hemoglobin or casein as substrate. These purified proteins showed a discrete pattern of migration under polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Under denaturing condition in SDS-gel electrophoresis, all but fraction D showed a protein band with a molecular weight of 30 000. Fraction D showed a major component with molecular weight of 33 000. The isoelectric points of these renin forms varied from 5.46 to 5.76. They all reacted with antibody raised against renin A and showed similar pressor response activity with 20 ng quantities of the purified proteins. The closely related characteristics of these five forms of renin were further demonstrated by their similarity in peptide mapping patterns after limited digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. The data suggest that these proteins are homologous proteins.     

Isolation of tissue-specific inhibitors of DNA synthesis (chalones) from rat liver

Two fractions of non-cytotoxic and tissue-specific inhibitors of 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA of rat liver regenerating after partial hepatectomy in vitro were obtained by gel filtration on a Sephadex-75 column of the ethanol precipitated aqueous extract. One of these fractions (Ve/Vo = = 2.0; Kav = 0.4) was found to be heterogenous and enriched with proteins with a molecular weight of 17 000-30 000 D. It was biologically active at concentrations exceeding 0.25 mg/ml. The biological activity of the other fraction (Ve/Vo = 3.0; Kav = 1) occurred at concentrations under 0.005 mg/ml. The main component of this fraction was discovered to be a protein with a molecular weight of 17 000 D.     

Liver as a source of transformed cell growth factor

Isolated rat hepatocytes release an acidic glycoprotein(s) that can selectively promote the growth of transformed cells. This factor has a molecular weight of 60 000–70 000 D. Liver microsomal and cytosol fractions contain two species of stimulatory activity—44 000 and 3 500 D. Mitochondrial and nuclear fractions contain only the lower molecular weight factor.     

A Rapid Purification Procedure for Camel Kidney Glutathione S-Transferase

Glutathione S-transferase was isolated from supernatant of camel kidney homogenate centrifugation at 37, 000 xg by glutathione agarose affinity chromatography. The enzyme preparation has a specific activity of 44 μ;mol/min/mg protein and recovery was more than 85% of the enzyme activity in the crude extract. Glutathione agarose affinity chromatography resulted in a purification factor of about 49 and chromatofocusing resolved the purified enzyme into two major isoenzymes (pI 8.7 and 7.9) and two minor isoenzymes (pI 8.3 and 6.9). The homogeneity of the purified enzyme was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100.

The different isoenzymes were composed of a binary combination of two subunits with molecular weight of 29, 000 D and 26, 000 D to give a native molecular weight of 55, 000 D.

The substrate specificities of the major camel kidney glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes were determined towards a range of substrates. l-chloro-2, 4-dinltrobenzene was the preferred substrate for all the isoenzymes. Isoenzyme III (pI 7.9) had higher specific activity for ethacrynic acid and isoenzyme II (pI 8.3) was the only isoenzyme that exhibited peroxidase activity. Ouchterlony double-diffusion analysis with rabbit antiserum prepared against the camel kidney enzyme showed fusion of precipitation lines with the enzymes from camel brain, liver and lung and no cross reactivity was observed with enzymes from kidneys of sheep, cow, rat, rabbit and mouse.

Different storage conditions have been found to affect the enzyme activity and the loss in activity was marked at room temperature and upon repeated freezing and thawing.     

Multiple molecular forms of glia maturation factor.

Glia maturation factor from the pig brain can be detected in two molecular forms: the high molecular weight form which is 200 000 dalton in size and the low molecular weight form which is 40 000 dalton in size, as determined by Sephadex gel filtration. The former accounts for 85% of the total biological activity extracted at physiologic pH. The proportion of the low molecular weight form increases following freeze-thawing and ion-exchange chromatography. In addition to the morphological effects, both forms possess mitogenic activity but no esteropeptidase activity. Both forms show similar enzyme susceptibility, being inactivated by papain, ficin and pronase but resistant to subtilisin, thermolysin and trypsin. The high molecular weight form is more resistant to denaturation by low pH, heating and urea than the low molecular weight form. The high molecular weight factor has an isoelectric point of 4.27 whereas the low molecular weight factor has one of 5.04.     

Purification of the calmodulin-sensitive adenylate cyclase from bovine cerebral cortex

A calmodulin-sensitive adenylate cyclase was purified 3000-fold from bovine cerebral cortex using DEAE-Sephacel, calmodulin-Sepharose, and two heptanediamine-Sepharose column steps. The purified enzyme activity was stimulated by calmodulin, forskolin, 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate, and NaF. The molecular weight of the protein component was estimated as 328 000 with a smaller form of Mr 153 000 obtained in the presence of Mn2+. The most highly purified preparations contained major polypeptides of 150 000, 47 000, and 35 000 daltons on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gels. Photoaffinity labeling of the preparation with azido[125I]iodocalmodulin gave one product of 170 000 daltons on SDS gels. It is proposed that the catalytic subunit of the calmodulin-sensitive enzyme is 150 000 +/- 10 000 daltons and that the enzyme exists as a complex of one catalytic subunit and the stimulatory guanyl nucleotide regulatory complex. These data are consistent with the previous report that the catalytic subunit of this enzyme has a molecular weight of 150 000 +/- 10 000 [Andreasen, T.J., Heideman, W., Rosenberg, G.B., & Storm, D.R. (1983) Biochemistry 22,2757].     

Antibody responses to antigens of Streptococcus mutans in monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) immunized against dental caries

Immunization of rabbits or monkeys with walls prepared from Streptococcus mutans by a procedure including extraction with SDS at room-temperature induced antibodies to three antigens (A, B and C) detectable by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Antigens A and B have previously been characterized as proteins of molecular weight 29 000 and 190 000, respectively. Antigen C was characterized as having a molecular weight of 70 000 and was purified by immunosorbent affinity chromatography and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Another wall protein, antigen D, of molecular weight 13 000, was extracted from walls with Triton X-100. Immunization of monkeys with walls prepared from cultures of S. mutans grown at a high (D = 0.5 h-1) or low (D = 0.05 h-1) dilution rate in a chemostat showed that only the latter induced protection against dental caries. There was a positive correlation between levels of antibody to antigens A and C and induction of protection and a negative correlation between protection and the level of antibody to antigen B. No antibody to antigen D was detected in protected monkeys and an experiment in which monkeys were immunized with pure antigen D confirmed that it does not induce protection.     

Purification of a water-soluble Mg2+-ATPase from human erythrocyte membranes

A water-soluble Mg2+-ATPase previously reported (White, M.D. and Ralston, G.B. (1976) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 436, 567-576) has been purified from human erythrocyte membranes. The purified enzyme has a molecular weight of 575 000; the apparent minimum molecular weight was 100 000, corresponding to a soluble protein of the component 3 region. The Km value for ATP was 1 mM and apparent Km for Mg2+ was 3.6 mM. By means of histochemical activity staining in acrylamide gels it was shown that the purified ATPase preparation could be inhibited by Cd2+ and Zn2+ salts, p-chloromercuribenzoate and N-ethylmaleimide, known inhibitors of membrane endocytosis.     

Purification and characterization of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate: aspulvinone dimethylallyltransferase from Aspergillus terreus

Dimethylallyl pyrophosphate:aspulvinone dimethylallyltransferase, the prenylation enzyme for the biosynthesis of aspulvinone pigments, has been purified from mycelia of Aspergillus terreus. The transferase catalyzed the transfer of the dimethylallyl moiety from dimethylallyl pyrophosphate to either of the two aromatic rings of aspulvinone E to give the mono- and diprenylated derivatives which were identified with the metabolites aspulvinone I and aspulvinone H, respectively. Aspulvinone G, another fundamental metabolite of this series, also acted as substrate to afford the corresponding diprenylated derivative, which is assumed to be a precursor for aspulvinone C, D, and F. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 240 000--270 000 by gel filtration. Since the subunit molecular weight determined by NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis was 45 000, the native enzyme appears to be a hexomeric protein composed of identical molecular weight subunits. The apparent Km values for aspulvinone E, aspulvinone G, and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate were 13.7, 7.7, and 40.0 micron, respectively. The enzyme shows the maximum activity at pH 7.0, and no metal ion is necessary for the activation. Sulfhydryl blocking agents or mercaptoethanol has no effect. Bromophenol blue binds specifically to the transferase and strongly inhibits the enzyme activity.     

Polypeptides of the synaptic membrane antigens D1, D2, and D3

The rat brain synaptic membrane antigens D1, D2, and D3 were labelled by 125I and precipitated by antibodies in a crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The precipitates were stained, scraped off, reduced, and analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. The D1 antigen was composed of two polypeptide chains, apparent molecular weights 50 300 and 116 000 D2 of only one polypeptide chain, apparent molecular weight 139 000, and D3 of three polypeptides, apparent molecular weights 14 100, 23 500, and 34 400. Higher apparent molecular weight polypeptides were present in variable amounts in the D3 precipitate, except when the synaptic membrane extracts had been pre-treated with phospholipase D.     

韭菜线粒体锰超氧化物歧化酶纯化及性质研究

经硫酸铵沉淀、ＤＥＡＥ－Ｓｅｐｈａｃｅｌ层析和Ｓｅｐｈａｄｅｘ Ｇ－２００凝胶过滤,将韭菜线粒体ＳＯＤ纯化到均一程度。从６０００ｇ韭菜叶片线粒体中纯化得到２．５ｍｇ酶,酶比活力达１２００Ｕ／ｍｇ蛋白。该酶对ＫＣＮ和Ｈ２Ｏ２都不敏感,热稳定性弱 外光区吸收峰在２８０ｎｍ,凝胶过滤法测得其分子量为８２００Ｄ,ＳＯＳ－ＰＡＧＥ法测定其亚基分子量的２２０００Ｄ,ＤＮＳ法测得其Ｎ－末端氨基酸为缬氨酸。上述结     

Photoreaction center of photosynthetic bacteria. 2. Size and quaternary structure of the photoreaction centers from Rhodospirillum rubrum strain G9 and from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides strain 2.4.1.

The photoreaction center from Rhodospirillum rubrum strain G9 binds about 6 times as much sodium dodecyl sulfate as certain proteins commonly used as molecular weight markers for sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This presumably explains the apparent discrepancy between the molecular weight of the photoreaction center determined by electrophoresis (76 000) and its minimal molecular weight (87 000). The molecular weight of the photoreaction center solubilized with Triton X-100 was determined by three different methods: conventional sedimentation equilibrium, a combination of sedimentation velocity and gel filtration measurements, and sedimentation equilibrium in H2O and in D2O. Each technique required a determination of the amount of bound detergent. All three methods gave molecular weight values close to 60 000. A similar molecular weight was found for the photoactive beta gamma dimer obtained from the photoreaction center of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides strain 2.4.1 which, as a whole, had a molecular weight of 87 000. These results indicate that the photoreaction center from Rp. sphaeroides is an oligomer of the type alpha 1 beta 1 gamma 1. In contrast, the photoreaction center from Rs. rubrum appears to be dissociated, in solution, into a photoactive beta gamma dimer and a free polypeptide alpha.     

Possibility of shape conformers of the protein inhibitor of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate dependent protein kinase.

The heat-stable, protein inhibitor of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) dependent protein kinase [Walsh, D. A., Ashby, C. D., Gonzalez, C., Calkins, D., Fischer, E., & Krebs, E (1971a) J. Biol. Chem. 246, 1977-1985] has been purified to homogeneity from rabbit skeletal muscle by preparative electrophoresis. Employing a more sensitive assay system, we detected multiple charged forms of the inhibitor on diethylaminoethyl chromatography; the form that has been further characterized is the predominant species in skeletal muscle comprising greater than 70% of the total. The apparent molecular weight of the protein inhibitor, as determined by Sephadex G-75 gel exclusion chromatography, is 22 000 in initial cellular extracts and at all stages during the purification prior to the final purification step of preparative gel electrophoresis, after which the homogeneous protein exhibits a molecular weight of 11 000. These two forms are designated I and I', respectively. The I form migrates with an apparent molecular weight of 10 000 on nondenaturing gel electrophoresis and of 10 500-11 500 on sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDodSO4) gel electrophoresis; the I' form migrates with an apparent molecular weight of 6500-8300 on NaDodSO4 electrophoresis and has a minimum molecular weight of 10 400 by amino acid analysis. Taking into account the anomalous behavior displayed by low molecular weight proteins with the various techniques employed, we suggest that the I and I' forms of the protein inhibitor may represent shape conformers.     

Identification of a high molecular weight nervous system specific cell surface glycoprotein on murine neuroblastoma cells

An antiserum to N18 neuroblastoma cells has been used to identify a glycoprotein of apparent molecular weight greater than 200 000 D in SDS-polyacrylamide gels. This glycoprotein (Band 1) is found in culture medium of N18 cells. An immunologically similar component can be immunoprecipitated from detergent extracts of enzymatically iodinated or biosynthetically labelled viable cells. Anti-band 1 activity can be adsorbed from the antiserum by intact N18 cells but not four other cultured murine cell lines. Normal adult murine brain also adsorbs anti-band 1 activity but adult murine adrenal, heart, kidney, liver, lung, and spleen do not. Several experiments indicate that band 1 is not myosin heavy chain or the fibroblast LETS protein. Thus band 1 is a newly identified high molecular weight nervous system specific glycoprotein.