Effects of amino acid replacements around the reactive site of chicken ovomucoid domain 3 on the inhibitory activity toward chymotrypsin and trypsin.

We have previously shown that replacing the P1-site residue (Ala) of chicken ovomucoid domain 3 (OMCHI3) with a Met or Lys results in the acquisition of inhibitory activity toward chymotrypsin or trypsin, respectively. However, the inhibitory activities thus induced are not strong. In the present study, we introduced additional amino acid replacements around the reactive site to try to make the P1-site mutants more effective inhibitors of chymotrypsin or trypsin. The amino acid replacement Asp-->Tyr at the P2' site of OMCHI3(P1Met) resulted in conversion to a 35000-fold more effective inhibitor of chymotrypsin with an inhibitor constant (K(i)) of 1. 17x10(-11) M. The K(i) value of OMCHI3(P1Met, P2'Ala) indicated that the effect on the interaction with chymotrypsin of removing a negative charge from the P2' site was greater than that of introducing an aromatic ring. Similarly, enhanced inhibition of trypsin was observed when the Asp-->Tyr replacement was introduced into the P2' site of OMCHI3(P1Lys). Two additional replacements, Asp-->Ala at the P4 site and Arg-->Ala at the P3' site, made the mutant a more effective inhibitor of trypsin with a K(i) value of 1. 44x10(-9) M. By contrast, Arg-->Ala replacement at the P3' site of OMCHI3(P1Met, P2'Tyr) resulted in a greatly reduced inhibition of chymotrypsin, and Asp-->Ala replacement at the P4 site produced only a small change when compared with a natural variant of OMCHI3. These results clearly indicate that not only the P1-site residue but also the characteristics, particularly the electrostatic properties, of the amino acid residues around the reactive site of the protease inhibitor determine the strength of its interactions with proteases. Furthermore, amino acids with different characteristics are required around the reactive site for strong inhibition of chymotrypsin and trypsin.     

A method for accurate analysis of intermembrane space in organelles enclosed by double envelope membranes.

Centrifugal filtration through a double layer of silicone oil was applied to determine the intermembrane space of organelles enclosed by double envelope membranes, i.e. proplastids, chloroplasts, mitochondria and amyloplasts. The organelles, capable of transporting adenylates by an adenylate translocator located in the inner envelope membrane, were incubated with increasing concentrations of adenylates while maintaining their specific radioactivities constant. Intermembrane spaces were estimated by extrapolation of radioactivities recovered after filtration of the organelles. The values estimated were compared to those obtained employing the classical method measuring the intake of [14C]-sucrose and [14C]-sorbitol which are impermeable to the inner membranes of organelles. The intermembrane space determined by the present method was shown to be uniformly smaller than the sucrose-permeable space which was always smaller than the sorbitol-permeable space.     

Distribution and characterization of diglycosyldiacylglycerol isomers with different anomeric configuration in higher plants.

The novel diglycosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), galactosyl(beta 1----6)-galactosyl(beta 1----3')-diacylglycerol (B isomer), present in Adzuki beans was found to be distributed together with the well-known galactosyl(alpha 1----6)-galactosyl(beta 1----3')-diacylglycerol (A isomer), in all (10) of the higher plants examined. The highest levels were found in leguminous seeds were the amounts were always less than 33% of the total DGDG of mature seeds. The highest proportion of the B isomer was found in Adzuki bean seed DGDG (26-33%), with the lowest in pea seed DGDG (2%). The amounts of the B isomer in DGDG of Adzuki and kidney beans cotyledons were almost equal to those in mature seeds. Immature seeds and hypocotyls of three kinds of beans also contained the B isomer in small amounts compared with the mature beans, while only trace amounts of the isomer was found in other organs such as leaves, stems, pods, roots and generative organs of plants, except for root from kidney beans. The molecular species composition of the principal diacylglycerol moieties in the A and B isomers of DGDG were found to be significantly different among several plant seeds, although the component diacylglycerol species were qualitatively similar to each other.     

Radioimmunoassay of urinary 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoyl glycine in hepatobiliary disease

A radioimmunoassay for 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoyl glycine in human urine has been developed. The antiserum was elicited with the antigen in which the steroid hapten is linked to a bovine serum albumin through the C-19 position. The [125I]-tyrosine derivative of the hapten was used as radioligand. The standard curves were linear ranging from 10 to 320 ng/mL. The cross-reactivities with other bile acids were not detectable and below 0.3% with cholesterol. Sample preparation includes extraction of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoyl glycine from urine and solvolysis of the sulfates--main form present in urine. Urinary excretion of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoyl glycine was 0.373 +/- 0.133 mumol/day in healthy adults. Urinary excretion of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoyl glycine increased in chronic liver dysfunction, hepatoma and obstructive jaundice in this order.     

Biological activities of analogues of lipid A based chemically on the revised structural model. Comparison of mediator-inducing, immunomodulating and endotoxic activities

Lipid A analogues were chemically synthesized based on the model structure recently revised, and biological activities of the analogues were tested. The analogue, (beta-1,6)-linked glucosamine disaccharide carrying ester-bound 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acids at 3 and 3' position of reducing and nonreducing glucosamine in addition to amide-bound 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acids and glycosidic-linked and ester-linked phosphate groups, showed much stronger activities for mediator inducing and immunomodulating as well as endotoxic activities than those exhibited by the previously synthesized analogues based on the old model. Among the activities tested, induction of interferon and tumor necrosis factor as well as mitogenicity, adjuvanticity and pyrogenicity were, however, not expressed so strongly as natural lipid A used as controls. In contrast, the analogue exhibited comparable activities to those of control lipid A in the test of lethal toxicity to mice and gelating activity of Limulus amebocyte lysate. Other synthetic analogues carrying a phosphate group showed comparable, slightly stronger or weaker activities depending on the test, but nonphosphorylated analogue exhibited no apparent or only very weak activities.     

Detection of inactive or less active forms of tyrosine hydroxylase in human adrenals by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay

A sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) from bovine and human adrenals has been developed. Anti-TH antibody was prepared from bovine adrenal TH. The assay system consisted of an antibody F(ab')2 immobilized on polystyrene beads as a solid phase and of beta-D-galactosidase-conjugated antibody. This method was highly sensitive and specific for the assay of TH. Human adrenal TH level was determined by similar sensitivity as bovine adrenal TH, suggesting the presence of common antigenic sites between human and bovine adrenal enzymes. The presence of inactive or less active forms of TH in human adrenals was revealed by purification of the enzyme and monitoring with this enzyme immunoassay as well as with enzyme activity assay.