A proposed mechanism for light emission by bacterial luciferase involving dissociative electron transfer

A new mechanism that involves dissociative electron transfer in the energy transducing step is set forward for bacterial luciferase catalyzed light emission. The proposal involves (1) dissociation of the 4a-hydroperoxyflavin to a flavin radical and ${}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{?}}$, accounting for 570 and 620nm absorption, (2) ${}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ addition to the aldehyde carbonyl to form a peroxyl radical, (3) abstraction of H from an enzyme thiol group to form RCH(OOH)OH, (4) thiyl radical abstraction of the H on C in RCH(OOH)OH, a step which can show a $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{H}}\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{D}}$ of ca. 4, and (5) dissociative electron- transfer, a highly exothermic step that leads to a protonated flavin excited state, a carboxylic acid and water.     

Esterase activity of rabbit pulmonary angiotensin converting enzyme

A series of depsipeptides have been synthesized and used to demonstrate the esterase activity of rabbit pulmonary angiotensin converting enzyme. Among the esters studied, Bz-Phe-OPhe-Ala was found to have the highest $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{cat}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$ which is about $\text{1}\text{5}$ that of its exact peptide analog, Bz-Phe-Phe-Ala. Esters such as Bz-Gly-OGly-Phe, Bz-Gly-OPhe-Phe and Bz-Gly-OLeu-Ala were also hydrolyzed but at much lower rates. Normal Michaelis-Menten behavior is observed and the kinetic parameters obtained indicate that the esters and their peptide analogs bind to the enzyme equally well, but that peptides are hydrolyzed at much higher rates. Studies on the pH-rate profiles, chloride ion effect, inhibition and chemical modifications detect no mechanistic differences between ester and peptide hydrolysis.     

Mechanism of action of thrombin on fibrinogen. The reaction of thrombin with fibrinogen-like peptides containing 11, 14, and 16 residues

The following peptides were synthesized by classical methods in solution: Ac-Gly-Gly- Val-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Val-Val-Glu-Arg-NHCH₃ (A), Ac-Ala-Glu-Gly-Gly-Gly-Val- Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Val-Val-Glu-Arg-NHCH₃ (B), and Ac-Phe-Leu-Ala-Glu-Gly-Gly- Gly-Val-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Val-Val-Glu-Arg-NHCH₃ (C). The rates of hydrolysis of the Arg-Gly bond of these three peptides by thrombin were measured, and the values of $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>cat</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$ were found to be 0.05 × 10^?7 (A), 0.02 × 10^?7 (B), and 1.6 × 10^?7 (C) [(NIH units/ liter)s]^?1. The value of$\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>cat</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$ for peptide C is less than 1% of that for fibrinogen [although the value of k_cat itself, for peptide C (but not for A or B), is comparable to that for fibrinogen]. These results indicate that phenylanine and leucine at positions P₉ and P₈, respectively, play a key role in the reaction of thrombin with fibrinogen. The data also show that factors outside of the 16 residues of peptide C are important in determining the rate of hydrolysis of fibrogen by thrombin.     

Difference in susceptibility of arginine-vasopressin and oxytocin to aminopeptidase activity in brain synaptic membranes

Arginine-vasopressin and oxytocin, peptides which serve as putative precursors for neurotrophic fragments, were digested in the presence of the respective ¹⁴C-Tyr²- and ${}^{14}\text{C-GlyNH}{}_2{}^9\text{-labeled}$ nonapeptides with a purified synaptic membrane preparation of rat brain. In this preparation aminopeptidase activity predominates in the conversion of these peptides. The disappearance of intact peptide and the release of free ¹⁴C-Tyr and ¹⁴C-GlyNH₂ was followed simultaneously with time by HPLC. Oxytocin was about four times more resistant to proteolysis than arginine-vasopressin as measured by slower disappearance of intact oxytocin, and reflected by the slower release of ¹⁴C-Tyr, but not of ¹⁴C-GlyNH₂ from oxytocin. Comparison of degradation rates of structure analogues showed that peptides having Ile in position 3, as oxytocin, were more resistant than analogues having Phe in position 3, as arginine-vasopressin. The data demonstrate that arginine-vasopressin and oxytocin differ markedly in susceptibility to the aminopeptidase activity in brain synaptic membranes, and indicate that this difference resides primarily in the amino acid residue in position 3. It is suggested that the difference in susceptibility may affect the pattern of neurotrophic metabolites in brain.     

Modifications of redox equilibria with semiquinone stabilization upon pyruvate binding to L-lactate cytochrome c oxidoreductase (flavocytochrome b2)

Spectral redox titrations of flavin and cytochrome b₂ moieties of flavocytochrome b₂ were achieved in the absence and in the presence of pyruvate under equilibrium conditions at 18° C; direct measurements of spin flavosemiquinone proportions have been carried out by EPR determinations at the same temperature. Our results show that the equilibria involving flavin are largely affected by the presence of pyruvate; the semiquinone proportion markedly increases almost till unit near half-reduction of cytochrome b₂; at 10 mM pyruvate, the dismutation constant, $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{dism}}\text{=}\text{(}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{s}}\text{)}{}^2\text{(}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{)}{}^1\text{(}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{)}$ increases by a factor ≥ 10.     

On the hydrophobic part of aminopeptidase and maltases which bind the enzyme to the intestinal brush border membrane

The intestinal brush border aminopeptidase and unfractionated maltases $\text{M}{}_2\text{+}\text{M}{}_3$ are composed of a hydrophilic, sugar containing and enzymatically active part, and a smaller hydrophobic part presumably binding the catalytic part to the lipid matrix of the membrane. Hydrophobic parts detached by trypsin from the detergent forms of aminopeptidase and the maltases were purified and shown to have molecular weights ranging from 8000 to 10000. All rich in hydrophobic residues and contain no disulfide bridges. However, their overall amino acid composition is different. The hydrophobic parts appear to be N-terminal in the detergent forms of the enzymes.     

Bacillus subtilis aminopeptidase: Specificity toward amino acid amides,dipeptides, and oligopeptides

Bacillus subtilis aminopeptidase hydrolyzed amino acid amides with a specificity similar to that determined using amino acyl-β-naphthylamides, but at much greater catalytic rates. Neutral and basic amino acid amides were the best substrates. A series of Leu and Lys NH₂-terminal dipeptides hydrolyzed by Co²⁺-activated aminopeptidase showed that the $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>cat</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$ ratios for the Lys substrates were fourfold greater than the corresponding Leu substrates and that catalytic differences reflected the identity of COOH terminal residues. Greatest catalytic rates were obtained when aromatic residues were in the COOH terminal position of the substrate (Trp, Tyr, Phe); but, significant hydrolysis was achieved when aliphatic residues were COOH-terminal in the dipeptide. The Co²⁺-activated enzyme would not hydrolyze peptide bonds composed of the imide nitrogen of Pro, thus, bradykinin was not a substrate. However, the Co²⁺-activated enzyme removed sequentially the first four residues from eledoisin-related peptide and the A chain of bovine insulin.     

The effects of n-alcohols on sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles

Short, mild treatments of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles with aqueous $\text{n-}\text{alcohols}$ from methanol to $\text{n-}\text{heptanol}$ caused an inhibition of calcium uptake and an enhancement of ATPase activity. The $\text{n-}\text{alcohol}$ treatments increased both calcium-dependent (extra) ATPase activity and calcium-independent (basic) ATPase activity of vesicles. The apparent initial reaction rate of ATPase of $\text{n-}\text{alcohol-treated}$ vesicles was about twice that of control vesicles. With increasing number ($\text{n}$) of carbon atoms of the $\text{n-}\text{alcohols}$, the maximum increment of ATPase activity increased, and both the alcohol concentration ($\text{N}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Ca</mtext>}}$) required to inhibit calcium uptake by 50% and the alcohol concentration ($\text{N}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>ATPase</mtext>}}$) required to enhance ATPase activity by 50% of the maximum increment of ATPase activity decreased as follows.

$\text{N}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Ca</mtext>}}\text{=23.5·10}{}^{\mathrm{?0.593n}}\text{M}$

$\text{N}{}_{\mathrm{ATPase}}\text{=35.5·10}{}^{\mathrm{?0.593n}}\text{M}$

The ratio, $\text{N}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>ATPase</mtext>}}$ to $\text{N}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Ca</mtext>}}$, was constant for all $\text{n}$ values. The apparent free energy of binding of the methylene groups of $\text{n-}\text{alcohols}$ to sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles was evaluated (?796 cal/mole) and compared with data from the partition of $\text{n-}\text{alcohols}$ in octanol and water (?670 cal/mole). The effects of $\text{n-}\text{alcohols}$ on membrane vesicles are discussed on the basis of these data.     

Major intrinsic polypeptide of lens membrane: Biochemical and immunological characterization of the major cyanogen bromide fragment

A protein of $\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>r</mtext>}}$ 26 000 has been shown to be the major component of eye-lens junctions, which are similar but not identical to the gap junctions of liver and other tissues. Cyanogen bromide cleavage of the $\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>r</mtext>}}$ 26 000 polypeptide from bovine lenses yields a major fragment of $\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>r</mtext>}}$ 15 000 (fragment 1). However, if the junctions are first treated with trypsin or carboxypeptidase Y, cyanogen bromide treatment yields a fragment of reduced molecular weight. Since protease treatment has been shown to cleave residues almost exclusively from the carboxy-terminal end of the $\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>r</mtext>}}$ 26 000 polypeptide, it follows that fragment 1 represents the carboxy-terminal half of this molecule, part of which is exposed to proteolytic attack outside the membrane. This latter result is corroborated by the fact that antisera which recognize both the $\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>r</mtext>}}$ 26 000 polypeptide and fragment 1 fail to do so after preadsorption with intact membranes. In addition, comparative amino acid and partial sequence analyses of the $\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>r</mtext>}}$ 26 000 polypeptide and fragment 1 indicate that fragment 1 is more hydrophilic in character, suggesting that much of the amino-terminal half of the $\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>r</mtext>}}$ 26 000 polypeptide is buried within the lipid bilayer.     

Comformation and absolute configuration of -methyllanthionine

If the bicyclic peptide ring proposed by Gross $\text{et}$$\text{al}$. (1,2) does in fact exist in nisin and related antibiotics, then the unusual β-methyllanthionine component must be significantly distorted from its conformation in the free state, as determined by x-ray structure analysis. The torsion angles about the SC_β bonds are 50–100° from the torsion angles in models of the sulfur-bridged peptide ring proposed for nisin. The chirality of the methylated β-carbon atom is (S). The conformation of the amino acid differs from that of $\text{meso}$-lanthionine only by a 180° rotation of a carboxyl group about the $\text{C}{}_{\mathrm{\alpha }}{}^{\mathrm{D}}\text{C}{}_{\mathrm{\beta }}\text{(CH}{}_3\text{)}$ bond.     

Reactivity of chemically generated superoxide radical anion with peroxides as determined by competition kinetics

A steady-state competition system has been developed to investigate the reactions of the superoxide radical anion ($\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext>}}$) with various peroxides, including the so-called Haber-Weiss reaction. Potassium superoxide dissolved in an oxygen-free solution of DMSO containing 18-dicyclohexyl-6-crown, is the source of $\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext>}}$. High pressure liquid chromatography is used as an assay system for $\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext>}}$ reactivity, to detect and quantitate the yield of anthracene, formed as a major product in the reaction between $\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext>}}$ and 9,10-dihydroanthrancene. Decrease in anthracene yields, in the presence of peroxide, may be used to indicate a possible competing reaction between $\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext>}}$ and added peroxide. Complications involving peroxide-stimulated formation of anthraquinone derivatives are discussed. No evidence for a competing reaction between $\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext>}}$ and peroxide can be detected up to a 10-fold excess of peroxide over 9,10-dihydroanthracene.     

Lipid-protein interactions in membrane models fluorescence polarization study of cytochrome b5-phospholipids complexes

According to previous authors, cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$, when extracted from bovine liver by a detergent method, is called cytochrome $\text{d-b}{}_5$. On the other hand, the protein obtained after trypsin action, which eliminates an hydrophobic peptide of about 54 residues, is called cytochrome $\text{t-b}{}_5$.Fluorescence polarization of the dansyl phosphatidylethanolamine probe inserted into phospholipid vesicles is very senstive to the binding of proteins, and so is a useful method to study lipid-protein interactions.The chromophore mobility, $\text{R}$, decreases markedly when dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles are incubated with cytochrome $\text{d-b}{}_5$, whereas $\text{R}$ does not change for cytochrome $\text{c}$ and cytochrome $\text{t-b}{}_5$. This can be interpreted as a strengthening of the bilayer, only due to the interaction of the hydrophobic peptide tail.Interaction of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles with cytochrome $\text{d-b}{}_5$ occurs either below or above the melting temperature of the aliphatic chains (41 °C). Even for a high protein to lipid molar ratio (1 molecule of protein for 40 phospholipid molecules), the melting temperature is apparently unaffected.Phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol do not interact at pH 7.7 with cytochrome $\text{d-b}{}_5$, because electrostatic forces prevent formation of complexes. At low pH, the interaction with the protein occurs, but the binding is mainly of electrostatic nature.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes derived from 2-(methylamino)pyridine

2-(Methylamino)pyridine reacts with RuCl₂(CO)₃ to give a carbamoyl complex, [$\text{Ru(C(O)N(CH}{}_3\text{)(C}{}_5\text{H}{}_4\text{N}$)Cl(CO)₂], which yields with pyridine (py) and acetylacetone (Hacac), respectively, [$\text{Ru(C(O)N(CH}{}_3\text{)C}{}_5\text{H}{}_4\text{N}$)Cl(CO)₂(py)] and [$\text{Ru(C(O)N(CH}{}_3\text{)C}{}_5\text{H}{}_4\text{N}$)(CO)₂(acac)]. These complexes are characterized spectroscopically. The amino group of the ligand is carbonylated and the resulted carbamoyl ligand is chelating through a pyridine ring-N and a carbamoyl-C atom. 2-Aminopyridine and 2-aminopyrimidine react similarly with RuCl₂(CO)₃ to give the corresponding carbamoyl complexes.     

Regulation of diamine oxidase expression by β2-adrenoceptors in normal and hypertrophic rat kidney

The administration of preferential adrenergic receptor antagonists to uninephrectomized rats revealed the $\text{β}{}_2\text{-}\text{adrenergic}$ mediation in diamine oxidase activity increase that occurs in the remaining kidney undergoing compensatory hypertrophy. In fact, $\text{β}{}_1\text{,β}{}_2\text{-}$ or $\text{β}{}_2\text{-}$, but not $\text{α}{}_1\text{-}$, $\text{α}{}_2\text{-}$, or $\text{β}{}_1\text{-}\text{receptor-blocking}$ this enzyme enhancement. Further studies with adrenoceptor agonists, such as epinephrine ($\text{α}{}_1$, $\text{α}{}_2$, $\text{β}{}_1$, $\text{β}{}_2$), isoproterenol ($\text{β}{}_1$, $\text{β}{}_2$) or terbutaline ($\text{β}{}_2$) showed that also in normal rat kidney diamine oxidase activity is under the control of $\text{catecholamine}\text{-β}{}_2\text{-}\text{receptors}$ through a mechanism that involves new synthesis of mRNA and protein. Theophylline, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, or forskolin, an activator of adenyl cyclase, increased diamine oxidase activity as does epinephrine or nephrectomy. Thus, catecholamine-triggered $\text{β}{}_2\text{-}\text{receptors}$ coupled to adenyl cyclase are involved in the regulation of diamine oxidase activity in normal and hypertrophic rat kidney.     

Active site studies of human thrombin and bovine trypsin: peptide substrates.

Twenty-four oligopeptides modeled after the N-terminal portion of the α(A)-chain of human fibrinogen were synthesized and tested as substrates for human thrombin and bovine trypsin. The peptides contained either an Arg-Gly bond, or an Arg-Val bond, or both. Glycine and glutamic acid were substituted at various positions within the peptides, and from the $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>cat</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$ for each peptide with thrombin and with trypsin, the importance of residues on both sides of the Arg-Gly bond was evaluated. The trypsincatalyzed hydrolysis is faster than the thrombin-catalyzed hydrolysis of the peptides with glutamic acid at various distances N-terminal to the Arg-Gly bond. The ratio of the thrombic rate to the tryptic rate is fastest when glutamic acid is six residues away. Thrombin selectively cleaves the Arg-Gly bond in Ac-Val-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Val-OH but cleaves both arginyl bonds rapidly in Ac-Val-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Val-OMe. Trypsin selectively cleaves an Arg-Val bond in Ac-Arg-Gly-Pro-Arg-Val-OMe. The results are discussed in the light of thrombic cleavages of proteins. Most of these are seen to occur at highly polar sequences that frequently contain a proline residue.     

Anaerobic stimulation of sugar transport in avian erythrocytes

The kinetic parameters of the sugar transport in avian erythrocytes were evaluated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In anaerobic cells, transport measurements with $\text{3-O-[}{}^{14}\text{C}\text{]}$ methylglucose resulted in a set of similar dissociation-like constants. Thus the Michaelis constants of $\text{3-O-[}{}^{14}\text{C}\text{]}$ methylglucose entry and exit, $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>so</mtext>}}$ and $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>si</mtext>}}$, were 8 and 7 mM, respectively. The equilibrium exchange constant, $\text{B}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$, and the counterflow constant, $\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$, were 9 and 11 mM, respectively. The activity constant for $\text{3-O-}\text{methylglucose}$ transport, $\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$, defined as $\text{V/K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$, was 4 ml/h per g. This set of kinetic constants was compatible with a symmetrical mobile-carrier model. In contrast, the Michaelis constant for glucose entry, $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>go</mtext>}}$, was 2 mM and less than the counterflow constant, $\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>g</mtext>}}$ (8 mM). This result could be accounted for by slower movement of the glucose-carrier complex than the free carrier. The activity constant for glucose transport, $\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>g</mtext>}}$, was 5 ml/h perg.Under aerobic conditions, two of the dissociation-like constants ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>si</mtext>}}$ and $\text{B}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$) for $\text{3-O-}\text{methylglucose}$ transport were significantly larger than those obtained in anaerobic cells, but the remaining two ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>so</mtext>}}$ and $\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$) remained unchanged. The values, for $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>so</mtext>}}\text{, K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>si</mtext>}}\text{, B}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext><mtext>\; and</mtext>}}\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$ were 8, 26, 20 and 8 mM, respectively. The activity constant, $\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$, decreased to 2 ml/h per g. These changes in kinetic constants were consistent with the hypothesis that anoxia accelerated sugar transport by releasing free carrier that was previously sequestered on the inside of the cell membrane.     

The polymorphic phase behaviour and miscibility properties of synthetic phosphatidylethanolamines

(1) The polymorphic phase behaviour of aqueous dispersions of various synthetic phosphatidylethanolamines, both singly and in mixtures, has been investigated by ³¹P-NMR. (2) $\text{14:0}\text{14:0}$ PE remains in the lamellar phase up to 90°C. $\text{18:1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>t</mtext>}}\text{18:1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>t</mtext>}}$ PE exhibits a lamellar to hexagonal (H_II) transition between 60°C and 63°C. For $\text{18:1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}\text{18:1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$ PE, the lamellar to hexagonal (H_II) transition occurs between 7 and 12°C, whereas for $\text{18:2}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}\text{18:2}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$ PE, the hexagonal (H_II) phase is the preferred structure above ?15°C. (3) Mixtures of $\text{18:1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}\text{18:1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$ PE and $\text{18:1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>t</mtext>}}\text{18:1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>t</mtext>}}$ PE exhibit near-ideal miscibility behaviour. For mixtures of $\text{18:1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}\text{18:1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$ PE and $\text{14:0}\text{14:0}$ PE there is evidence of fluid-solid immiscibility at temperatures below the gel-liquid crystalline transition temperature of the $\text{14:0}\text{14:0}$ PE component. Mixtures of $\text{18:2}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}\text{18:2}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$ PE and $\text{18:1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>t</mtext>}}\text{18:1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>t</mtext>}}$ PE exhibit complex phase behaviour involving limited fluid-solid immiscibility at low temperatures and formation of a phase allowing isotropic motional averaging at higher temperatures. (4) ³¹P-NMR provides a graphic method for investigating the miscibility properties of mixed PE systems.     

Immunochemical study on the participation of cytochrome b5 in drug oxidation reactions of mouse liver microsomes.

Highly purified divalent and monovalent antibodies against cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$, anti-$\text{b}{}_5$ immunoglobulin G (IG) and anti-$\text{b}{}_5$ Fab', were used in elucidating the role of this cytochrome in the drug-oxidizing enzyme system of mouse liver microsomes. Anti-$\text{b}{}_5$ IG strongly inhibited not only NADH-supported but also NADPH-supported oxidation of 7-ethoxycoumarin and benzo(a)pyrene, but had no inhibitory action on the oxidation of aniline. Anti-$\text{b}{}_5$ Fab' also inhibited NADH-supported and NADPH-supported benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylation. These observations indicate an essential role of cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ in the transfer of electrons not only from NADH but also from NADPH to cytochrome P-450 in the microsomal oxidation of some drugs, but not of aniline.     

Effect of para-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid and temperature on cell water osmotic permeability of proximal straight tubules

The apparent Arrhenius energy of activation ($\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}$) of the water osmotic permeability ($\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>os</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$) of the basolateral plasma cell membrane of isolated rabbit proximal straight tubules has been measured under control conditions and after addition of 2.5 mM of the sulfhydryl reagent, para-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (pCMBS), of mersalyl and of dithiothreitol. $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}$ (kcal/mol) was $\text{3.2 ± 1.4}$ (controls) and $\text{9.2 ± 2.2}$ (pCMBS), while $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>os</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$ decreased with pCMBS to $\text{0.26 ± 0.17}$ of its control value. Mersalyl also decreased $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>os</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$ both in vitro and in vivo (using therapeutical doses). These actions of pCMBS and mersalyl were quickly reverted with 5 mM dithiothreitol and prevented by 0.1 M thiourea. $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}$ for free viscous flow is 4.2 and greater than 10 for non-pore-containing lipid membranes. By analogy with these membranes and with red blood cells, where similar effects of pCMBS on $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>os</mtext>}}$ are observed, it is concluded that cell membranes of the proximal tubule are pierced by aqueous pores which are reversibly shut by pCMBS. Part of the action of mercurial diuretics can be explained by their action on $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>os</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$.