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.     

A revised primary structure for neocarzinostatin based on fast atom bombardment and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry

The amino acid sequence of the antitumor protein neocarzinostatin was revised on the basis of mass spectrometric studies. Gas chromatographic mass spectrometry on the O-trimethylsilyl polyaminoalcohol derivatives of peptide mixtures derived from tetra S-carboxymethyl-neocarzinostatin were used to partially sequence neocarzinostatin. In addition, fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometric experiments on neocarzinostatin and its tryptic fragments gave the molecular weights of various peptides and, in some cases, partial sequence information. The revised sequence involved reordering of two chymotryptic peptides, the identification of a new di- and tripeptide sequence (Ala-Asp and Ala-Ser-Thr), the repositioning of Trp at position 39, and the assignment of the remaining Asx residues. The revised structure for neocarzinostatin (Mr = 11,105) now shows considerable homology with the other antitumor antibiotic proteins macromomycin and actinoxanthin.     

Structure of the antitumor protein neocarzinostatin. Purification, amino acid composition, disulfide reduction, and isolation and composition of tryptic peptides

The antitumor protein neocarzinostatin has been purified by repeated CM-cellulose chromatography and Sephadex G-50 gel filtration. The protein possesses 109 amino acid residues in a single chain, crosslinked by two disulfide bonds. Reduction and S-alkylation could not be accomplished in aqueous solution and required the use of dithiothreitol in liquid ammonia, followed by treatment with alkyl chloride. Tryptic digestion of (tetra-S-carboxymethyl)neocarzinostatin afforded five tryptic fragments which were fractionated by preparative paper chromatography and high-voltage paper electrophoresis, purified by Sephadex gel filtration and characterized by amino acid and amino end-group analysis. The total number of amino acid residues of these fragments account for the 109 residues of neocarzinostatin.     

Molecular Basis of Transferrin Polymorphism in Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Transferrin (TF) polymorphism was investigated in a color variety of goldfish (Carassius auratus), and its molecular basis analyzed. Three TF variants (A1, A2 and B1) were identified from an inbred strain of the goldfish, of which A1 and B1 displayed a large electrophoretic difference on both native and SDS-PAGE gels. The TF cDNAs corresponding to variants A1 and B1 were cloned and sequenced from A1A1, A1B1 and B1B1 individuals, and their deduced amino acid sequences were analyzed. Substantial amino acid variation occurred between variants A1 and B1, with significant differences in peptide length, theoretical molecular weight (Mw) and isoelectric point (pI). No potential glycosylation sites were observed in the two amino acid sequences, which excluded the possibility that carbohydrate difference might cause electrophoretic variation among the TF variants. Further analysis suggested that the distinct electrophoretic mobility of the two variants A1 and B1 by SDS-PAGE resulted from their Mw difference, while the difference by the native PAGE could be explained by their pI variation. Furthermore, genomic DNA fragments containing the transferrin alleles were amplified and subjected to RFLP analysis in A1A1, A1B1 and B1B1 individuals. The data revealed characteristic banding patterns for each TF genotype, and demonstrated that the TF alleles A1 and B1 could be used as a co-dominant marker system. The initial work relating to the goldfish TF variants will benefit the understanding of the evolutionary and functional significance of TF polymorphism in fish.     

Amino acid sequence and some ligand binding properties of fatty acid-binding protein from bovine brain

Summary A fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) from the cytosol of bovine brain was purified by Sephadex G-75 filtration and electrofocusing. The purified protein migrated as a single protein band in 15% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an apparent molecular mass of 14.7 kDa. To ascertain that the purified protein was a FABP, it was submitted to fatty acid-binding tests. Oleic and palmitic acids bound to brain FABP but this was not the case for palmitoyl CoA. By Scatchard analysis the ligand binding values were: Kd = 0.28 µM, Bmax (mol/mol) = 0.6 for oleic acid and Kd = 0.8 µM, Bmax (mol/mol) = 2.1 for palmitic acid. The complete amino acid sequence of the brain FABP was determined and a microheterogeneity was observed. Sequence comparison with other FABPs of known sequence and the observed microheterogeneity demonstrated the presence in brain of several homologous FABPs closely related to heart FABP.This paper corresponds to a communication at the first international workshop on fatty acid binding proteins (Maastricht, the Netherlands, September 4–5, 1989).     

Neocarzinostatin: effect of modification of side chain amino and carboxyl groups on chemical and biological properties.

The antitumor protein neocarzinostatin (NCS), isolated from Streptomyces carzinostaticus, is a single chain polypeptide with 109 amino acid residues. Complete acylation of the amino groups (alanine-1 and lysine-20) was observed when NCS was allowed to react with 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester at pH 8.5. Since the ensuing bis[(alanine-1, lysine-20)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)]-propionamide NCS was fully active in antibacterial potency and in the inhibition of growth of leukemic (CCRF-CEM) cells in vitro, it appears that the two amino groups in the protein are not essential for biological activity. Radiolabeled NCS was prepared by using a tritiated or 125I-labeled acylating agent. Since the CD spectra of native and bis(alanine-1, lysine-20)-amino modified NCS were indistinguishable, there is presumably no change in the native conformation of the protein due to acylation. Reaction of NCS with ammonium chloride in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide at pH 4.75 converted all the 10 carboxyl groups into carboxamides and produced a protein derivative of basic character. This modification caused a change in the native conformation of the protein accompanied by a loss in biological inhibitory activities.     

Primary structure of macromomycin, an antitumor antibiotic protein

The antitumor protein macromomycin is a single chain polypeptide of 112 amino acid residues cross-linked by two intramolecular disulfide bonds. The protein was reduced and S-alkylated with 2-mercaptoethanol in 8 M urea followed by treatment with iodoacetic acid. Tryptic digestion of tetra-S-carboxymethyl macromomycin gave four tryptic peptides which were fractionated by gel permeation on Sephadex G-50. The amino acid sequence of the tryptic peptides and the overlap sequences were determined by a combination of automated Edman degradation analysis, gas chromatographic mass spectrometry, and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. A comparison of the structures of macromomycin, actinoxanthin, and neocarzinostatin suggests that they belong to a family of related proteins.     

Direct evidence for methylation of arginine residues in high molecular weight forms of basic fibroblast growth factor.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a heparin-binding angiogenic polypeptide mitogen. Protein sequence analysis of bFGF isolated from tissue sources initially established that it is composed of 146 amino acids (apparent Mr 18,000). More recently larger apparent molecular weight forms have been identified and partially characterized. In addition, these high molecular weight forms (apparent Mr 22,000 and 25,000) have been shown to localize preferentially to nuclear fractions of transfected cells. In this report we demonstrate that the higher molecular weight, amino terminally extended forms of bFGF contain methylated arginine residues. The demonstration is based on 1) amino acid sequence analysis of a protein known to contain methylated arginine (myelin basic protein) and a comparison with amino acid sequence analysis of trypsin-derived fragments of the high molecular weight bFGF purified from guinea pig brain and 2) the ability to label in vivo the high molecular weight forms of bFGF with S-adenosyl-L-(methyl-3H)-methionine, the substrate of arginine-protein methylase I. These results are suggestive of a role of arginine methylation in directing nuclear localization of certain forms of bFGF.     

Spontaneous deamidation of a protein antibiotic, neocarzinostatin, at weakly acidic pH. Conversion to a homologous inactive preneocarzinostatin due to change of asparagine 83 to aspartic acid 83 accompanied by conformational and biological alterations.

The amide content of neocarzinostatin (NCS), an antitumor protein, has been determined by analysing asparagine and glutamine in the Pronase-aminopeptidase M digests of tetra-S-carboxymethyl-NCS and carboxyl-modified NCS (modified with a water-soluble carbodiimide and [14C]glycine methyl ester). Preneocarzinostatin (PRE) was separated and purified from a crude NCS preparation by CM-cellulose column chromatography. PRE was found to contain one mole less asparagine than NCS, and asparagine was deamidated to aspartic acid in PRE. A time-dependent conversion of NCS to PRE at pH 3.2 at 4 degrees or in 0.1 M acetic acid at 26 degrees was studied in two ways; first, by quantitative determination of NCS and PRE by CM-cellulose column chromatography and second, by following the release of free NH3 during dialysis in an air-tight container. Within experimental error, PRE was indistinguishable from NCS in amino acid content after acid hydrolysis, as well as in apparent molecular weight as determined by SDS-disc gel electrophoresis (10% acrylamide), and N- and C-terminal amino acid residues. Both NCS and PRE shared a common antigenicity as determined by Ouchterlony's agar diffusion method. Only a slight difference between the two in electrophoresis on a cellulose acetate membrane and on a peptide map of the tryptic digest was demonstrated. PRE, however, was completely devoid of biological activity. In addition to the chromatographic difference, a conformational difference was observed by CD spectroscopy, namely, an apparently looser structure of PRE was indicated by the shallowness of the trough in the 240-265 nm region. This interpretation was supported by the finding that digestions by Pronase were more extensive with PRE than with NCS. These results indicate an important role of the single asparagine residue (Asn 83) of NCS in the biological activity, which is evidently governed by the conformation.     

Purification of bovine adrenocortical and brain tubulin. A comparative study

Microtubules from the cow adrenal cortex and brain were purified by three cycles of the temperature-dependent polymerization-depolymerization procedure. Whereas tubulin comprised approximately 8--10% of soluble brain protein, it comprised only 0.5-1.0% of the soluble adrenocortical protein. The partially purified tubulin from both sources gave similar results in the following studies: (1) [3H]colchicine binding examined by Scatchard analysis revealed an apparent Ka of 1 . 10(6) M-1 and a colchicine/tubulin molar binding ratio of 0.4-0.6; (2) tyrosylation studies using a specific tubulin-tyrosine ligase (which adds a tyrosine residue to the C-terminal glutamate or glutamine of the alpha-chain) in conjunction with carboxypeptidase A (which recovers the tyrosine) and (3) amino acid analysis. Examination of protein bands, in addition to the tubulin doublet of 55 000 molecular weight, on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a difference between the two tubulin preparations. The adrenocortical preparation had protein bands corresponding to apparent molecular weight of 36 000, 60 000, and 68 000. In contrast the brain preparation had only proteins of molecular weights greater than 200 000 (these bands were absent in all adrenal preparations). It would thus appear that if proteins which copurify with tubulin through repeated cycles of polymerization-depolymerization play a role in either microtubule formation or function there is a distinct difference between neural and non-neural tissue.     

Identity of the protein cores of the two link proteins from bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan complex. Localization of their sugar moieties

The cyanogen bromide (CNBr) fragments of the two link proteins (LP) were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The observed apparent molecular weight difference between LP1 (Mr = 44,500) and LP2 (Mr = 48,500) was the reflect of a molecular weight difference between their NH2-terminal CNBr fragments (Mr = 19,000 and 24,000 for LP1 and LP2, respectively). The latter are glycosylated contrary to the COOH-terminal parts of the molecules. Fluorhydric acid/pyridine treatment suggests that LP1 and LP2 have a protein core of identical size. They differ from their common tryptic fragment (T-G200-3 fraction) by the presence of an additional short peptide. The latter was highly glycosylated in LP2 but not in LP1. Deglycosylation together with CNBr treatment corroborates the hypothesis that LP1 and LP2 possess a similar protein core.     

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the gene specifying the bifunctional 6''-aminoglycoside acetyltransferase 2"-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase enzyme in Streptococcus faecalis and identification and cloning of gene regions specifying the two activities.

The gene specifying the bifunctional 6'-aminoglycoside acetyltransferase [AAC(6')] 2"-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase [APH(2")] enzyme from the Streptococcus faecalis plasmid pIP800 was cloned in Escherichia coli. A single protein with an apparent molecular weight of 56,000 was specified by this cloned determinant as detected in minicell experiments. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed the presence of an open reading frame capable of specifying a protein of 479 amino acids and with a molecular weight of 56,850. The deduced amino acid sequence of the bifunctional AAC(6')-APH(2") gene product possessed two regions of homology with other sequenced resistance proteins. The N-terminal region contained a sequence that was homologous to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase of Bacillus pumilus, and the C-terminal region contained a sequence homologous to the aminoglycoside phosphotransferase of Streptomyces fradiae. Subcloning experiments were performed with the AAC(6')-APH(2") resistance determinant, and it was possible to obtain gene segments independently specifying the acetyltransferase and phosphotransferase activities. These data suggest that the gene specifying the AAC(6')-APH(2") resistance enzyme arose as a result of a gene fusion.     

X-ray studies on crystalline complexes involving amino acids and peptides: Part XVIII. Crystal structure of a new form of L-arginine D-glutamate and a comparative study of amino acid crystal structures containing molecules of the same and mixed chirality

The new form of L-arginine D-glutamate is monoclinic, P2₁, witha = 9.941(1),b = 4.668(2),c = 17.307(1) Å,β = 95.27(1)°, and Z = 2. In terms of composition, the new form differs from the old form in that the former is a monohydrate whereas the latter is a trihydrate. The structure has been solved by the direct methods and refined to R = 0.085 for 1012 observed reflections. The conformation of the arginine molecule is the same in both the forms whereas that of the glutamate ion is different. The change in the conformation of the glutamate ion is such that it facilitates extensive pseudosymmetry in the crystals. The molecules arrange themselves in double-layers stabilised by head-to-tail sequences involving main chains, in both the forms. However, considerable differences exist between the two forms in the interface, consisting of side chains and water molecules, between double-layers. A comparative study of the relationship between the crystal structures of L and DL amino acids on the one hand and that between the structures of LL and LD amino acid-amino acid complexes on the other, provides interesting insights into amino acid aggregation and the effect of chirality on it. The crystal structures of most hydrophobic amino acids are made up of double-layers and those of most hydrophilic amino acids contain single layers, irrespective of the chiralities of the amino acids involved. In most cases, the molecules tend to appropriately rearrange themselves to preserve the broad features of aggregation patterns when the chirality of half the molecules is reversed as in the structures of DL amino acids. The basic elements of aggregation in the LL and the LD complexes, are similar to those found in the crystals of L and DL amino acids. However, the differences between the LL and the LD complexes in the distribution of these elements are more pronounced than those between the distributions in the structures of L and DL amino acids.     

Characterization of crystals of xylose isomerase from Streptomyces violaceoniger

Crystals of the tetrameric xylose isomerase from Streptomyces violaceoniger have been examined by x-ray analysis. Octahedral crystals with a maximum dimension of 0.7 mm were grown from ammonium sulfate solution. They possess the symmetry of P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2 space groups, which are crystallographically indistinguishable. The unit cell dimensions are a = b = 140 A and c = 134 A. There is one tetramer of molecular weight 160,000 per asymmetric unit. The crystals diffract to 2.2 A.     

A lipophilic derivative of neocarzinostatin. A polymer conjugation of an antitumor protein antibiotic.

A lipophilic derivative of neocarzinostatin (NCS), an antitumor antibiotic, was prepared by reaction with a synthetic water-soluble polymer, [(styrene)1 approximately 3-(maleic acid 4 approximately 7/anhydride 1)]. The reaction was carried out at pH 8.6 for 3 h and aimed at modifying the two nonessential amino groups (alpha-amino of Ala-1, epsilon-amino of Lys-20). The NCS-polystyrene (SMANCS) was purified on a column of Sephadex G-100 in 0.05 M ammonium bicarbonate and the main product was obtained as a single peak. The elemental analysis showed an increased C and a decreased N content. U.v. and i.r. absorption spectra for SMANCS showed the presence of styrene. SDS-acrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 8.5 and the decreased N content suggested a molecular weight of about 25 000, indicating the numbers of polymers conjugated to be about six units, two of which were found attached to the two amino groups. SMANCS was soluble in organic solvents, in contrast to NCS, and in water. SMANCS exhibited increased chemical and biological stability and appeared to possess similar in vitro biological activity.     

Neocarzinostatin naphthoate synthase: an unique iterative type I PKS from neocarzinostatin producer Streptomyces carzinostaticus

Enediyne antibiotics are known for their potent antitumor activities. One such enediyne, neocarzinostatin (NCS), consists of a 1:1 complex of non-peptide chromophore (1a), and peptide apoprotein. The structurally diverse non-peptide chromophore is responsible for its biological activity. One of its structural components, the naphthoic acid moiety (2,7-dihydroxy-5-methyl-1-naphthoic acid, 1d) is synthesized by a polyketide synthase (PKS) pathway through condensing six intact acetate units. The 5.45 kb iterative type I PKS, neocarzinostatin naphthoate synthase (NNS), responsible for naphthoic acid moiety biosynthesis, shares sequence homology with 6-methyl salicylic acid synthase of fungi and orsellinic acid synthases (AviM and CalO5) of Streptomyces origin. Cultures of S. lividans TK24 and S. coelicolor YU105 containing plasmids with NNS were able to produce 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-1-naphthoic acid (2a), a key intermediate of naphthoic acid moiety in NCS. In addition to 2a, a novel product, 2-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-1-naphthoic acid (2d) was isolated. This is the first report of a bacterial iterative type I PKS from an enediyne producer which enables the biosynthesis of bicyclic aromatic compounds.     

Purification and amino-terminal sequence of an insulin-like growth factor-binding protein secreted by rat liver BRL-3A cells

A protein preparation that specifically binds insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) I and II was purified from medium conditioned by rat liver BRL-3A cells using molecular sieve chromatography in 1 M acetic acid followed by affinity chromatography on IGF-II-agarose. The affinity-purified IGF-binding protein exhibits a single major band with apparent Mr = 36,300 under reducing conditions on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. The IGF-binding protein is efficiently and specifically cross-linked to either 125I-IGF-I (human) or 125I-IGF-II (rat) using disuccinimidyl suberate. An IGF-binding protein of similar apparent molecular weight was also affinity purified from rat hepatoma H-35 cell conditioned medium and found to differ from the BRL-3A protein such that potent polyclonal antisera prepared in rabbits against the purified BRL-3A IGF-binding protein exhibited a much lower titer for the H-35 protein in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and upon immunoblotting. In order to determine whether a single BRL-3A IGF-binding protein is present in the affinity-purified preparation, the protein was prepared for sequencing on a Sephacryl S-300 column in 6 M guanidine HCl after reduction and alkylation. The amino acid composition (expressed in percentages) of this IGF-binding protein was determined to be: Cys = 5.5, Lys = 4.8, His = 2.8, Arg = 7.8, Asx = 10.2, Thr = 5.1, Ser = 3.9, Glx = 15.7, Gly = 17.4, Ala = 7.3, Val = 4.6, Met = 1.4, Ile = 2.4, Leu = 8.3, Tyr = 1.0, Phe = 1.9. Sequencing of the NH2-terminal portion of this protein led to the identification of 31 amino acids in the following order: Phe-Arg-Cys-Pro-Pro-Cys-Thr-Pro-Glu-Arg-Leu-Ala-Ala-Cys-Gly-Pro-Pro-Pro- Asp-Ala-Pro-Cys-Ala-Glu-Leu-Val-Arg-Glu-Pro-Gly-Cys. We conclude that rat liver BRL-3A cells secrete a single major IGF-binding protein capable of binding both IGF-I and IGF-II.     

X-ray studies on crystalline complexes involving amino acids and peptides. Part XIV: Closed conformation and head-to-tail arrangement in a new crystal form of L-histidine L-aspartate monohydrate

A new form of L-histidine L-aspartate monohydrate crystallizes in space group P2₂ witha = 5.131(1),b = 6.881(1),c= 18.277(2) Å,β= 97.26(1)° and Z = 2. The structure has been solved by the direct methods and refined to anR value of 0.044 for 1377 observed reflections. Both the amino acid molecules in the complex assume the energetically least favourable allowed conformation with the side chains staggered between the α-amino and α-scarboxylate groups. This results in characteristic distortions in some bond angles. The unlike molecules aggregate into alternating double layers with water molecules sandwiched between the two layers in the aspartate double layer. The molecules in each layer are arranged in a head-to-tail fashion. The aggregation pattern in the complex is fundamentally similar to that in other binary complexes involving commonly occurring L amino acids, although the molecules aggregate into single layers in them. The distribution of crystallographic (and local) symmetry elements in the old form of the complex is very different from that in the new form. So is the conformation of half the histidine molecules. Yet, the basic features of molecular aggregation, particularly the nature and the orientation of head-to-tail sequences, remain the same in both the forms. This supports the thesis that the characteristic aggregation patterns observed in crystal structures represent an intrinsic property of amino acid aggregation.     

Increasing dispensable amino acids in diets of kittens fed essential amino acids at or below their requirement increases the requirement for arginine

Summary Kittens fed diets containing 0.75 × the NRC (1986) essential amino acid requirement (EAArq) and 210 to 560g crude protein(CP)/kg diet exhibited, with increasing CP: 1) decreasing weight gain, 2) decreasing plasma arginine concentrations, 3) increasing urinary orotic acid excretion, 4) increasing plasma glutamic acid concentrations, and 5) plasma isoleucine concentrations at levels that suggest a marginal isoleucine deficiency. Kittens fed a control diet (CD) containing 1.5 × EAArq and 350 g CP/kg diet had maximal weight gains and no orotic aciduria. It was concluded that the decreased weight gain and adverse metabolic effects were caused by arginine deficiency and possibly glutamic acid toxicity induced by high dietary dispensable amino acids. Kittens fed the diets containing 1.0 × EAArq and 350 and 560 g CP/kg diet had depressed plasma arginine and elevated glutamic acid concentrations and orotic aciduria. These results indicate that 10 g arg/kg diet is not adequate at CP concentrations above 280 g/kg and the calculated requirement of arginine is (0.02 g arginine/g CP) × (Y g CP/kg diet) + (4.0 g arginine/kg diet) where Y is the dietary CP level.Abbreviations CD control diet - CP crude protein (g CP/kg diet = g nitrogen/kg diet × 6.25) - DAA dispensable amino acids - EAA essential amino acids - EAArq essential amino acid requirement     

The generalization of pre-neocarzinostatin and antagonism of neocarzinostatin-induced DNA scission in vitro

Pretreatment of the antitumor protein neocarzinostatin with heat, ultraviolet or white light, and thiols inactivates the drug, as measured by the cessation of phage T2 DNA strand scission in vitro. The inactive forms obtained are identical with pre-neocarzinostatin on the basis of isoelectric focusing, molecular weight determination, and changes in circular dichroism spectra. In incubations together with neocarzinostatin and T2 DNA, the inactive form inhibits strand scission to a considerable degree. This result suggests that both forms compete for a limited number of available DNA binding sites.