Molecular cloning and sequencing of a cDNA coding for mature human kidney cathepsin H

A cDNA library was established from human kidney RNA and screened with an extended oligonucleotide probe derived from the amino-acid sequence of human cathepsin H. A recombinant clone, pRF15, was isolated and characterized. DNA sequence analysis of its 1106-nucleotide-long insert revealed that pRF15 encodes the complete protein sequence of mature cathepsin H plus 28 amino acids of a propeptide, thus confirming that cathepsin H is synthesized as a larger precursor molecule and posttranslationally processed. Northern blot analysis indicated that cathepsin H is predominantly synthesized in kidney. A high degree of sequence homology was observed with rat cathepsin H, especially within the propeptide. The part of the prosequence coding for the "minichain" is conserved in the prosequence of aleurain, a plant thiol protease.     

Plasticin, a novel type III neurofilament protein from goldfish retina: increased expression during optic nerve regeneration.

The goldfish visual pathway displays a remarkable capacity for continued development and plasticity. The intermediate filament proteins in this pathway are unexpected and atypical, suggesting these proteins provide a structure that supports growth and plasticity. Using a goldfish retina lambda gt10 library, we have isolated a full-length cDNA clone that encodes a novel type III intermediate filament protein. The mRNA for this protein is located in retinal ganglion cells, and its level dramatically increases during optic nerve regeneration. The protein is transported into the optic nerve within the slow phase of axonal transport. We have named this protein plasticin because it was isolated from a neuronal pathway well known for its plasticity.     

Xylanase and xylosidase activities in avocado fruit

The activities of xylanase and xylosidase were demonstrated in mature avocado (Persea americana Mill.) fruits from different cultivars. When monitored on the day of harvest during the season at 1-month intervals, xylanase activity decreased and xylosidase activity increased between January and February and then remained stable until May. When monitored during the ripening process (January harvest), xylanase activity was constant, and xylosidase activity reached a peak at the climax of ethylene evolution and cellulase activity. Xylanase, which originated from Trichoderma viride and was added to the medium in which avocado discs were incubated, induced ethylene evolution.     

A novel cholinergic receptor mediates inhibition of chick cochlear hair cells.

The central nervous system provides feedback regulation at several points within the peripheral auditory apparatus. One component of that feedback is inhibition of cochlear hair cells by release of acetylcholine (ACh) from efferent brainstem neurons. The mechanism of hair cell inhibition, and the character of the presumed cholinergic receptor, however, have eluded understanding. Both nicotinic and muscarinic, as well as some non-cholinergic ligands can affect the efferent action. We have made whole-cell, tight-seal recordings from short (outer) hair cells isolated from the chick's cochlea. These are the principal targets of cochlear efferents in birds. ACh hyperpolarizes short hair cells by opening a cation channel through which Ca2+ enters the cell and subsequently activates Ca(2+)-dependent K+ current (Fuchs & Murrow 1991, 1992). Both curare and atropine are effective-antagonists of cholinergic inhibition at 3 microM, whereas trimethaphan camsylate and strychnine block at 1 microM. The normally irreversible nicotinic antagonist, alpha-bungarotoxin, reversibly blocked the hair cell response, as did kappa-bungarotoxin. The half-blocking concentration for alpha-bungarotoxin was 26 nM. It is proposed that the hair cell AChR is a ligand-gated cation channel related to the nicotinic receptor of nerve and muscle.     

Reversible dissociation of active octamer of cyanase to inactive dimer promoted by alteration of the sulfhydryl group

Cyanase is an inducible enzyme in Escherichia coli that catalyzes the reaction of cyanate with bicarbonate resulting in the decomposition of cyanate to ammonia and bicarbonate. In this study, the role of the single sulfhydryl group in each of the eight identical subunits of cyanase was investigated. Tetranitromethane, methyl methanethiosulfonate, N-ethylmaleimide, and Hg2+ all reacted with the sulfhydryl group to give derivatives which had reduced activities and which dissociated reversibly to inactive dimer. Association of inactive dimer to active octamer was facilitated by the presence of azide (cyanate analog) and bicarbonate, increased temperature and enzyme concentration, and presence of phosphate. Nitration of tyrosine residues by tetranitromethane occurred only in the absence of azide and bicarbonate, suggesting that at least some of the tyrosine residues become exposed when octamer dissociates to dimer. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to prepare a mutant enzyme in which serine was substituted for cysteine. The mutant enzyme was catalytically active and had properties very similar to native enzyme, except that it was less stable to treatment with urea and to high temperatures. These results establish that in native cyanase the sulfhydryl group per se is not required for catalytic activity, but it may play a role in stabilizing octameric structure, and that octameric structure is required for catalytic activity.     

Reassociation of dimeric cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase is determined by slow and very slow folding reactions

Malate dehydrogenase occurs in virtually all eucaryotic cells in mitochondrial and cytoplasmic forms, both of which are composed of two identical subunits. The reactivation of the mitochondrial isoenzyme has been the subject of previous studies [Jaenicke, R., Rudolph, R., & Heider, I. (1979) Biochemistry 18, 1217-1223]. In the present study, the reconstitution of cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase from porcine heart after denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride has been determined. The enzyme is denatured by greater than 1.2 M guanidine hydrochloride; upon reconstitution, approximately 60% of the initial native enzyme can be recovered. The kinetics of reconstitution after maximum unfolding by 6 M guanidine hydrochloride were analyzed by fluorescence, far-ultraviolet circular dichroism, chemical cross-linking with glutaraldehyde, and activity measurements. After fast folding into structured intermediates (less than 1 min), formation of native enzyme is governed by two parallel slow and very slow first-order folding reactions (k1 = 1.3 X 10(-3) S-1 and k2 = 7 X 10(-5) S-1 at 20 degrees C). The rate constant of the association step following the slow folding reaction (determined by k1) must be greater than 10(6) M-1 S-1. The energy of activation of the slow folding step is of the order of 9 +/- 1 kcal/mol; the apparent rate constant of the parallel very slow folding reaction is virtually temperature independent. The intermediates of reassociation must be enzymatically inactive, since reactivation strictly parallels the formation of native dimers. Upon acid dissociation (pH 2.3), approximately 35% of the native helicity is preserved, as determined by circular dichroism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Localization of a highly immunogenic region on the acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit

Antibodies to synthetic peptides were employed in order to map domains on the alpha-subunit of the acetylcholine receptor to which several monoclonal antibodies are directed. Five peptides corresponding to residues 1-20, 126-143, 169-181, 330-340 and 351-368 of the receptor alpha-subunit were synthesized and antibodies against them were elicited. The anti-peptide antibodies were employed along with the monoclonal antibodies to identify fragments of S. aureus V8 protease digested- alpha-subunit in immunoblotting experiments. Our results demonstrate that a highly immunogenic region of the alpha-subunit is located on a carboxy-terminal 14 kDa portion of the alpha-subunit. This region also seems to undergo antigenic changes during muscle development. A monoclonal antibody directed against the cholinergic binding site of the acetylcholine receptor reacted with an 18 kDa segment of the alpha-subunit which bound alpha-bungarotoxin as well as antibodies directed against peptide 169-181.     

Cloning, expression, and characterization of the Anabaena thioredoxin gene in Escherichia coli.

The gene encoding thioredoxin in Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7119 was cloned in Escherichia coli based on the strategy that similarity between the two thioredoxins would be reflected both in the gene sequence and in functional cross-reactivity. DNA restriction fragments containing the Anabaena thioredoxin gene were identified by heterologous hybridization to the E. coli thioredoxin gene following Southern transfer, ligated with pUC13, and used to transform an E. coli strain lacking functional thioredoxin. Transformants that complemented the trxA mutation in E. coli were identified by increased colony size and confirmed by enzyme assay. Expression of the cloned Anabaena thioredoxin gene in E. coli was substantiated by subsequent purification and characterization of the algal protein from E. coli. The amino acid sequence derived from the DNA sequence of the Anabaena gene was identical to the known amino acid sequence of Anabaena thioredoxin. The E. coli strains which expressed Anabaena thioredoxin complemented the TrxA- phenotype in every respect except that they did not support bacteriophage T7 growth and had somewhat decreased ability to support bacteriophages M13 and f1.     

Sequence and expression of a human type II mesothelial keratin

Using mRNA from cultured human mesothelial cells, we constructed bacterial plasmids and lambda phage vectors that contained cDNA sequences specific for the keratins expressed in these cells. A cloned cDNA encoding keratin K7 (55 kD) was identified by positive hybrid selection. Southern Blot analysis indicated that this sequence is represented only once in the human genome, and Northern Blot analysis demonstrated that the gene encoding K7 is expressed in abundance in cultured bronchial and mesothelial cells, but only weakly in cultured epidermal cells and not at all in liver, colon, or exocervical tissue. The predicted amino acid sequence of this keratin has revealed a striking difference between this keratin and the type II keratins expressed in epidermal cells: whereas all of the epidermal type II keratins thus far sequenced have long nonhelical termini rich in glycine and serine, this mesothelial type II keratin has amino and carboxy terminal regions that are unusually short and lack the inexact repeats of glycine and serine residues.