Isolation and characterization of a basic carboxypeptidase from human seminal plasma

A carboxypeptidase which cleaves the C-terminal arginine or lysine from peptides was purified by a two-step procedure; gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 and affinity chromatography on arginine-Sepharose. The activity increased 280% after the first step, indicating the removal of an inhibitor from the crude starting material. The activity in the crude seminal plasma eluted from the Sephacryl S-300 column with an apparent Mr 98,000 and after purification with an Mr 67,000, indicating that it binds to another protein in the crude seminal plasma. When analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, a single band at Mr 53,000 was seen which was converted to two smaller bands (Mr 32,000 and/or 26,000) after reduction. The seminal plasma carboxypeptidase has a neutral pH optimum, is inhibited by o-phenanthroline and by the inhibitor of carboxypeptidase B-type enzymes, 2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid, and can be activated by cobalt. The purified enzyme has a high specific activity (67.8 mumol/min/mg) with the ester substrate benzoyl (Bz)-Gly-argininic acid and readily cleaves Bz-Ala-Lys, Bz-Gly-Arg, and Bz-Gly-Lys. It also hydrolyzes biologically active peptides such as bradykinin (Km = 6 microM, kcat = 43 min-1), Arg6-Met5-enkephalin (Km = 103 microM, kcat = 438 min-1), and Lys6-Met5-enkephalin (Km = 848 microM, kcat = 449 min-1). The seminal plasma carboxypeptidase did not cross-react with antiserum to human plasma carboxypeptidase N; other properties distinguish it from the blood plasma enzyme as well as from pancreatic carboxypeptidase B and granular, acid carboxypeptidase H (enkephalin convertase). The carboxypeptidase could be involved in the control of fertility by activating or inactivating peptide hormones in the seminal plasma. In addition it could contribute to the degradation of basic proteins during semen liquefaction.     

Partial purification and characterization of glycylprolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase in porcine pancreas

This study reports the presence of glycylprolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase in porcine pancreas, and its partial purification and some properties. Crude enzyme preparation was obtained by extraction from acetone-dried powder of the pancreas at pH 7.6. For solubilization of enzyme, freezing and thawing were carried out. Crude enzyme extract was fractionated with ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 column and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Partially purified enzyme showed 2897-folds purification. The enzyme activity on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed good agreement with a main protein band stained with Coomassie brilliant blue. Molecular weight of this enzyme from the pancreas was estimated to be 300 000 by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 column. Optimum pH was between 8.5 and 9.0, and K_m value for glycylproline-p-nitroanilide tosilate was 0.33 mM. This enzyme from the pancreas was a serine enzyme and was relatively stable to heat at 60°C for 10 min.     

Purification and properties of glucoside 3-dehydrogenase from Flavobacterium saccharophilum

A membrane-bound glucoside 3-dehydrogenase [EC 1.1.99.13], which oxidizes validoxylamine A to the 3-keto derivative, was solubilized from the membrane fraction of Flavobacterium saccharophilum by Triton X-100 and purified about 280-fold with an overall yield of 30% from the membrane fraction by column chromatography on DEAE- and CM-Sepharose CL-6B and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. The purified enzyme exhibited a single protein band on disc gel electrophoresis, and FAD was shown to be the prosthetic group. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 270,000 as determined by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 and consisted of 4 identical subunits each with a molecular weight of 66,000. The enzyme reacted with various artificial electron acceptors such as 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCIP), phenazine methosulfate, and ferricyanide. The optimum pH for DCIP reductase activity was 6.0. The enzyme was inhibited by Hg2+ and p-chloromercuribenzoate. D-Glucose and methyl-alpha- and beta-D-glucoside showed the highest susceptibility to the enzyme, and were converted to the corresponding 3-keto sugars.     

Kinetic properties of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hypocotyls.

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) from sunflower hypocotyls has been partially purified by selective precipitation with ammonium sulfate and molecular gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. Kinetic assays carried out with this partially purified PAL preparation revealed that the enzyme did not show a homogeneous kinetic behaviour. The observed kinetic pattern and parameters (Km and Vmax) depended on the assay conditions used and the protein concentration added to the assay mixture. PAL displayed Michaelian or negative cooperativity kinetics. Such behaviour can be explained by the existence of an association-dissociation process of PAL-protein subunits. The presence of mono-, tri- and tetrameric forms of PAL has been assessed by molecular gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200, using different elution conditions.     

Purification and partial characterization of neuraminidase from type III group B streptococci

Extracellular neuraminidase from a type III fresh clinical isolate of a group B streptococcus was purified by a combination of salt fractionation, affinity chromatography of Affi-Gel blue, ion-exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethylcellulose, and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200. These procedures yielded enzyme which was purified approximately 1,000-fold compared with the enzyme found in the original supernatant fluid. This type III streptococcal neuraminidase had a molecular weight of approximately 125,000 as estimated by filtration on Sephacryl S-200 and approximately 106,000 when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In contrast to the majority of other bacterial neuraminidases, the type III group B streptococcal enzyme had no effect on colominic acid or N-acetylneuramin-lactose; however, it was quite active on bovine submaxillary mucin.     

Purification and properties of 3-ketovalidoxylamine A C-N lyase from Flavobacterium saccharophilum

3-Ketovalidoxylamine A C-N lyase was purified about 900-fold from the cell-free extract of Flavobacterium saccharophilum by ammonium sulfate fractionation, column chromatography on CM cellulose and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200. The purified enzyme was homogeneous as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 36,000 by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 and by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating that the enzyme is a monomer. The optimum pH was found at 9.0. The enzyme activity was inhibited by EDTA or ethyleneglycol bis(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid and the inhibition was reversed by Ca2+ ion. The enzyme was able to eliminate p-nitroaniline or p-nitrophenol from p-nitrophenyl-3-ketovalidamine (IV) or p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-3-ketoglucoside (VI), but not from p-nitrophenyl-1-epi-3-ketovalidamine or p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-3-ketoglucoside. Apparent Km values for IV and VI were 0.24 mM and 0.5 mM, respectively.     

Correlation of energy-dependent cell cohesion with social motility in Myxococcus xanthus.

Membrane-bound ATPase was found in membranes of the archaebacterium Methanosarcina barkeri. The ATPase activity required divalent cations, Mg2+ or Mn2+, and maximum activity was obtained at pH 5.2. The activity was specifically stimulated by HSO3- with a shift of optimal pH to 5.8, and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide inhibited ATP hydrolysis. The enzyme could be solubilized from membranes by incubation in 1 mM Tris-maleate buffer (pH 6.9) containing 0.5 mM EDTA. The solubilized ATPase was purified by DEAE-Sepharose and Sephacryl S-300 chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 420,000 by gel filtration through Sephacryl S-300. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate revealed two classes of subunit, Mr 62,000 (alpha) and 49,000 (beta) associated in the molar ratio 1:1. These results suggest that the ATPase of M. barkeri is similar to the F0F1 type ATPase found in many eubacteria.     

An Activator Stimulating the Hydrolysis of Phospholipids by Phospholipase B from Torulaspora delbrueckii

An activator stimulating the enzymatic hydrolysis of phospholipids was purified to a homogeneous state from autolyzed Torulaspora delbrueckii cell washings. Autolyzed cell washings were extracted with chloroform and ethanol, and the activator was purified about 130-fold by sequential column chromatographies on DEAE-Sephacel, Sephacryl S-300, and TSK gel G 3000 SW (high performance liquid chromatography, HPLC). The molecular weight of the activator was about 175,000 as estimated by gel filtration on HPLC. However, the purified activator gave two protein bands corresponding to molecular weights from 102,000 to 129,000 and from 71,000 to 88,000, respectively, on SDS- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, when stained with silver stain reagent and periodic acid-Shiff (PAS) reagent. The activator was sensitive to heat treatment at 70°C for lOmin. The purified activator had no enzymatic activity, but stimulated the hydrolysis of phospholipids by water-soluble and membrane-bound phospholipases B if the substrates were pre-incubated with the activator. No stimulation of hydrolysis by the enzyme was observed when the activator was pre-incubated with the enzyme. The hydrolytic rate of phosphatidylcholine by the enzyme at acidic pH (pH 2.6) depended upon the amount of activator added. On the other hand, the hydrolytic rate at alkaline pH (pH 7.6) was stimulated greatly by more than 0.04 nmol of the activator.     

Purification and Characterization of O-Methyltransferase I Involved in Conversion of Demethylsterigmatocystin to Sterigmatocystin and of Dihydrodemethylsterigmatocystin to Dihydrosterigmatocystin during Aflatoxin Biosynthesis

O-Methyltransferase I, which catalyzes conversions both of demethylsterigmatocystin (DMST) to sterigmatocystin (ST) and of dihydrodemethylsterigmatocystin (DHDMST) to dihydrosterigmatocystin (DHST) during aflatoxin biosynthesis, was purified to apparent homogeneity from the cytosol fraction of the mycelia of Aspergillus parasiticus NIAH-26 through the following chromatography series: phenyl-Sepharose, DEAE-Sepharose, phenyl-Sepharose, Sephacryl S-300, and Matrex gel Green A. The apparent molecular mass was estimated at 150 kDa based on Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration chromatography, and the denaturing molecular mass was 43 kDa based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The pI of the enzyme was 4.4, and the optimal pH for activity was broad, from 6.5 to 9.0. In competition experiments using the purified enzyme, the formation of ST from DMST was suppressed when DHDMST was added to the reaction mixture and DHST was newly formed. These results indicate that DMST and DHDMST commonly serve as substrates for the enzyme. The K_m of the enzyme for DMST was 0.94 μM, and that for DHDMST was 2.5 μM. Interestingly, MT-I kinetics deviated substantially from standard Michaelis-Menten kinetics, demonstrating substrate inhibition at a higher substrate concentration.     

Synthesis of 1-(2,6,6-Trimethyl-4-hydroxy-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-1,3-butanedione

Streptococcus dysgalactiae IID 678, belonging to group C of the streptococci, secreted a large amount of hyaluronidase (hyaluronate lyase, EC 4.2.2.1) into a culture medium containing hyaluronic acid. The purification procedures of hyaluronidase were 70% ammonium sulfate precipitation, ECTEOLA-cellulose chromatography, phospho-cellulose chromatography, and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. The hyaluronidase was purified approximately 27,000-fold from the culture filtrate. The purified enzyme was homogeneous by SDS-poIyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme degradated only hyaluronic acid and chondroitin to zl 4,5-unsaturated disaccharides and did not act on other glycosaminoglycans containing sulfate groups, while the degradation rate of chondroitin was about 1/60 of that of hyaluronic acid. The optimum pH was wide, from pH 5.8 to pH 6.6, and the optimum temperature was 37°C. Fe^{2 +}, Cu^{2 +}, Pb^{2 +}, and Hg^{2 +} ions inhibited the activity strongly and Zn²⁺ inhibited it by half. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 125,000 by gel filtration and 117,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was different immunochemically from the hyaluronidase from Streptococcus pyogenes belonging to group A.     

N-terminal amino acid sequence of persimmon fruit beta-galactosidase.

beta-Galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) from persimmon fruit was purified 114-fold with a 15% yield using Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, CM-Sephadex ion exchange, and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography, with subsequent electroelution from nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) gels. The estimated molecular mass of the native beta-galactosidase by Sephacryl S-200 was 118 kD. After sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE of the enzyme electroeluted from native gels, two subunits with estimated molecular masses of 34 and 44 kD were observed, suggesting that the native enzyme was an aggregate of several subunits. Amino acid composition and N-terminal amino acid sequences of the two major subunits were different.     

A thermostable manganese-containing superoxide dismutase from the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus

A thermostable superoxide dismutase (SOD) from a Thermomyces lanuginosus strain (P134) was purified to homogeneity by fractional ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, Phenyl-Sepharose hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-100. The molecular mass of a single band of the enzyme was estimated to be 22.4 kDa, using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Using gel filtration on Sephacryl S-100, the molecular mass was estimated to be 89.1 kDa, indicating that this enzyme was composed of four identical subunits of 22.4 kDa each. The SOD was found to be inhibited by NaN₃, but not by KCN or H₂O₂, suggesting that the SOD in T. lanuginosus was of the manganese superoxide dismutase type. The SOD exhibited maximal activity at pH 7.5. The optimum temperature for the activity was 55°C. It was thermostable at 50 and 60°C and retained 55% activity after 60 min at 70°C. The half-life of the SOD at 80°C was approximately 28 min and even retained 20% activity after 20 min at 90°C.     

Purification and Characterization of γ-Glutamylmethylamide Synthetase from Methylophaga sp. AA-30

γ-Glutamylmethylamide synthetase [L-glutamate: methylamine ligase (ADP-forming), EC 6.3.4.12] was purified about 70-fold from a cell-free extract of Methylophaga sp. AA-30 by ammonium sulfate fractionation, Octyl-Sepharose column chromatography, and Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. Only a single protein band was detected after SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified preparation; the band was at a position corresponding to a molecular weight of 56,000. The molecular weight of the enzyme was calculated to be 440,000 by Superose 6HR gel filtration, so we suggest that the enzyme is an octomer of identical subunits. The enzyme had maximum activity at pH 7.5 and 40°C. It could use ethylamine and propylamine instead of methylamine as the substrate, but it could not use D-glutamate or L-glutamine instead of L-glutamate.     

Isolation and characterization of Patnopecten mid-gut gland endo-beta-xylosidase active on peptidochondroitin sulfate

An endo-beta-xylosidase acting on the linkage region of peptidochondroitin sulfate was isolated from the mid-gut gland of the mollusc Patnopecten and purified about 375-fold, using a combination of ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200, and DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. The pH optimum and the isoelectric point of this enzyme were 4.0 and 7.0, respectively. The molecular weight, estimated by gel filtration through Sephacryl S-200, was 78,000. The purified enzyme was completely free from protease, exoglycosidases, sulfatase, and phosphatase. This enzyme hydrolyzed the xylosyl serine linkage of the linkage region of various glycosaminoglycans, that is chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate, all possessing a very small peptide segment, but not proteoglycans. It was concluded that this endo-beta-xylosidase was involved in the catabolism of proteoglycans.     

S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase and spermidine synthase from chinese cabbage

The enzyme, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.50), has been demonstrated in leaves of Chinese cabbage, (Brassica pekinensis var Pak Choy). All of the enzyme can be found in extracts of the protoplasts obtained from the leaves of growing healthy or virus-infected cabbage. The protein has been purified approximately 1500-fold in several steps involving ammonium sulfate precipitation, affinity chromatography, and Sephacryl S-300 filtration. The reaction catalyzed by the purified enzyme has been shown to lead to the equimolar production of CO₂ and of decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine (dSAM). The K_m for SAM is 38 micromolar. The reaction is not stimulated by Mg⁺⁺ or putrescine, and is inhibited by dSAM competitively with SAM. It is also inhibited strongly by methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone). The enzyme, spermidine synthase (EC 2.5.1.16), present in leaf or protoplast extracts in many fold excess over SAM decarboxylase, has been purified approximately 1900-fold in steps involving ammonium sulfate precipitation, affinity chromatography, and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300. Standardization of the Sephacryl column by proteins of known molecular weight yielded values of 35,000 and 81,000 for the decarboxylase and synthase, respectively.     

Fish skeletal muscle contains a novel serine proteinase with an unusual subunit composition.

Proteinase I, an enzyme previously shown to be able to degrade contractile and cytoskeletal elements of white-croaker (Micropogon opercularis) myofibrils, was purified to apparent homogeneity by chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, octyl-Sepharose CL 4B and arginine-Sepharose 4B. Its Mr was determined to be 269,000 by Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. Under denaturing conditions, the enzyme dissociated into two subunits with Mr 20,000 and 15,500, in a molar ratio of 1.8:1. Proteinase I showed a pH optimum of 8.5. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by several serine proteinase inhibitors, whereas inhibitors of the other types of proteinases did not affect, or only scarcely affected, its activity. Several N-terminal-blocked 4-methyl-7-coumarylamide substrates having either arginine or lysine residues adjacent to the fluorogenic group were efficiently hydrolysed by the enzyme. These results indicate that proteinase I is a trypsin-like serine proteinase. The enzyme appears to be distinct from other proteinases previously described in skeletal muscle, and might be involved in the catabolism of myofibrillar proteins.     

Activation of the rat liver cytosol glucocorticoid receptor by sephacryl S-300 filtration in the presence and absence of molybdate. Physical properties of the receptor and evidence for an activation inhibitor

The DNA-binding and physical properties of the rat liver cytosol glucocorticoid receptor were determined before and after Sephacryl S-300 filtration in the presence or absence of molybdate. Cytosol was prepared and labeled with [3H]triamcinolone acetonide in buffer containing molybdate. Prior to gel filtration, only 5 +/- 3% (mean +/- S.E.) of labeled receptors bound to DNA-cellulose. After gel filtration in the presence and absence of molybdate, the per cent of labeled receptors binding to DNA-cellulose was 57 +/- 10% and 83 +/- 1%, respectively. Nonreceptor fractions from the Sephacryl S-300 column contained a heat-stable factor which blocked receptor activation but did not block the binding of activated receptors to DNA-cellulose. The activation inhibitor eluted from the column in the region of the albumin standard, but after heating its size was considerably reduced (Mr less than 3500). Receptors activated by Sephacryl S-300 filtration underwent the same size changes in the presence or absence of molybdate. Prior to gel filtration, the S20,w of labeled receptors in the presence of molybdate was 9.2 +/- 0.2 S. After filtration in the presence and absence of molybdate, the S20,w of labeled receptors was 4.2 +/- 0.2 and 4.4 +/- 0.1 S, respectively. The Stokes radius (Rs) of labeled receptors after gel filtration in either the presence or absence of molybdate was 65 +/- 1 A. From the Rs and S20,w values, the molecular weight (Mr) of activated receptors was calculated to be 115,000 to 121,000, which was in close agreement with the Mr of affinity-labeled receptors determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Purification and properties of suppressor seryl-tRNA: ATP phosphotransferase from bovine liver

Seryl-tRNASerCmCA: ATP phosphotransferase was purified 1200-fold from bovine liver by ultracentrifugation at 150 000 X g, chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, fractional precipitation with ammonium sulfate, chromatography on hydroxyapatite, gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 and affinity chromatography on Blue Sepharose. Molecular mass was estimated as 135-145 kDa. The Km values for ATP and ser-tRNASerCmCA were 2 mM and 21 nM, respectively. This enzyme did not react with ser-tRNASerIGA, tyr-tRNA or thr-tRNA.     

Purification and Some Properties of Exo-type Fucoidanases from Vibrio sp. N-5

Three fucoidanases were purified from Vibrio sp. N-5 by ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatography with DEAE-Toyopearl 650 M, Sephacryl S-300 HR, and chromatofocusing. The purified enzymes gave a single band on disc polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of the enzymes, E-1, E-2, and E-3 were 39,500, 68,000, and 68,000, respectively, by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 158,000, 68,500, and 67,500 by gel filtration. The enzymes hydrolyzed gagome-fucoidan to give small oligosaccharides containing sulfate as main product.     

Isolation and Sequence Analysis of Bovine αsl-Casein cDNA Clone

Nucleoside oxidase, a novel nucleoside oxidizing enzyme has been purified from a crude extract of Pseudomonas maltophilia LB-86 by a ammonium sulfate fractionation, heat treatment, column chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl, and gel filtration twice on Sephacryl S-200. The overall purification was approximately 60-fold with a yield of 35 %. The purified enzyme gave a single protein band on acrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Reaction products from inosine were identified as inosine-5′-aldehyde and inosine-5′-carboxylic acid. The enzyme catalyzed the oxidation of inosine to inosine-5′-carboxylic acid via inosine-5′-aldehyde using molecular oxygen as a primary electron acceptor with no formation of hydrogen peroxide.