Inhibition of the biosynthesis ofN-acetylneuraminic acid by metal ions and seleniumin vitro

In liver homogenate the biosynthesis ofN-acetylneuraminic acid usingN-acetylglucosamine as precursor can be followed stepwise by applying different chromatographic procedures. In this cell-free system 16 metal ions (Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, La³⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, VO ₃ ^– , Pb²⁺, Ce³⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Al³⁺, Sn²⁺, Cs⁺ and Li⁺) and the selenium compounds, selenium(IV) oxide and sodium selenite, have been checked with respect to their ability to influence a single or possible several steps of the biosynthesis ofN-acetylneuraminic acid. It could be shown that the following enzymes are sensitive to these metal ions (usually applied at a concentration of 1 mmoll^–1):N-acetylglucosamine kinase (inhibited by Zn²⁺ and vandate), UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase (inhibited by zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺, VO ₃ ^– , Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cs⁺, Li⁺, selenium(IV) oxide and selenite), andN-acetylmannosamine kinase (inhibited by Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Co²⁺). Dose dependent measurements have shown that Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and selenite are more efficient inhibitors of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase than vanadate. As for theN-acetylmannosamine kinase inhibition, a decreasing inhibitory effect exists in the following order Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺ and Cu²⁺. In contrast, La³⁺, Al³⁺ and Mn²⁺ (1 mmoll^–1) did not interfere with the biosynthesis ofN-acetylneuraminic acid. Thus, the conclusion that the inhibitory effect of the metal ions investigated cannot be regarded as simply unspecific is justified.Dedicated to Professor Theodor Günther on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Rotational correlation times of peptides determined by perturbed angular correlations of γ-rays

The technique of Perturbed Angular Correlations of -rays has been used to study the rotational correlation times in aqueous solution of the peptides: oxytocin, glycyltryptophan, cholecystokinin and the glycopeptide ristocetin. These peptides were labelled with excited ^111mCd through the covalent coupling of the metal chelator diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) to the primary amines-of the peptides. The experimental correlation times are in good accordance with calculations based on the molecular weight. This indicates that the ^111mCd-DTPA is rigidly bound to the molecules. In the case of ristocetin, the correlation time was measured at 2°C, 25°C and 38°C. These experiments show the expected linear dependence on the viscosity divided by temperature. The feasibility of determining rotational correlation times for peptides without lysines and with correlation times in the ns region is thus demonstrated. Also, the correlation time of ^111mCd-DTPA coupled to the lysines of bovine serum albumin was determined. The measured correlation time is about 5 times less than the calculated correlation time. This effect is assigned to local motion. In spite of this, experiments show that ^111mCd-DTPA-bovine-serum-albumin is significantly immobilised by aggregation with immunoglobulins. The nuclear quadrupole interactions, necessary for determining the correlations times, were determined for ^111mCd-DTPA-ristocetin and ^111mCd-DTPA-bovine-serum-albumin by adding sucrose to a concentration of 63% and cooling to 2°C. This showed a small but significant difference between the two molecules. We interpret this as due to different conformations, possibly different coordination numbers. Offprint requests to: E. Danielsen     

Chemotaxis of Rhizobium meliloti to the plant flavone luteolin requires functional nodulation genes.

Luteolin is a phenolic compound from plants that acts as a potent and specific inducer of nodABC gene expression in Rhizobium meliloti. We have found that R. meliloti RCR2011 exhibits positive chemotaxis towards luteolin. A maximum chemotactic response was observed at 10(-8) M. Two closely related flavonoids, naringenin and apigenin, were not chemoattractants. The presence of naringenin but not apigenin abolished chemotaxis of R. meliloti towards luteolin. A large deletion in the nif-nod region of the symbiotic megaplasmid eliminated all chemotactic response to luteolin but did not affect general chemotaxis, as indicated by swarm size on semisoft agar plates and chemotaxis towards proline in capillary tubes. Transposon Tn5 mutations in nodD, nodA, or nodC selectively abolished the chemotactic response of R. meliloti to luteolin. Agrobacterium tumefaciens GMI9050, a derivative of the C58 wild type lacking a Ti plasmid, responded chemotactically to 10(-8) M luteolin. The introduction of a 290-kilobase nif-nod-containing sequence of DNA from R. meliloti into A. tumefaciens GMI9050 enabled the recipient to respond to luteolin at concentrations peaking at 10(-6) M as well as at concentrations peaking at 10(-8) M. The response of A. tumefaciens GMI9050 to luteolin was also abolished by the presence of naringenin.     

The pho-controlled outer membrane porin PhoE does not contain specific binding sites for phosphate or polyphosphates

Purified PhoE-porins were reconstituted into black lipid bilayer membranes, and the selectivity and size of the reconstituted pores were determined. Addition of polyphosphates influenced the internal charge situation of the pore resulting in a shift from anion to cation selectivity. However, the pore size as judged from single channel conductances was not influenced by the addition of polyphosphates. A strong inhibition of the pore conductance only occurred when Mg2+ was also present in the aqueous phase. The inhibition of the pore function is presumably caused by the formation of a chelate between the divalent cation and the polyphosphate. Nevertheless, neither this inhibition nor the selectivity shift are specific to phosphate, because both effects can be mimicked by other polyvalent anions such as citrate. Inhibition of the PhoE pore function by polyphosphate in in vivo experiments confirmed the results of in vitro experiments that polyphosphate is only able to affect the permeability of the outer membrane toward beta-lactam antibiotics if Mg2+ is present. The outcome of the in vivo and the in vitro experiments are consistent with the assumption that the PhoE-porins do not contain a specific binding site for phosphate or polyphosphates but are anion selective because of an excess of positively charged amino acids inside or at the surface of the pore.     

An integrated microprocessor-based fermenter control system

An integrated microprocessor-based fermenter controller was developed in 1980 for an operational environment at Cetus Corp. The main goals in the design and construction of the system were (1) to facilitate scale-up; (2) to provide flexibility and high performance for optimizing fermentation processes; and (3) to be cost-effective for 15 in-house systems. It was also developed to work in conjunction with a laboratory minicomputer for on-line optimization experiments. The controller controls temperature, agitation, dissolved oxygen, pH, and foam throughout each fermentation run without manual intervention. The feedback control parameters have been optimized to provide very accurate control over a wide range of setpoint conditions and under rapidly changing metabolic conditions such as induced during an Escherichia coli batch run. The controller has also been configured to monitor, display, and record each of the controlled variables; support the interactive operator console; and communicate with the laboratory computer. In over 4 years of operation, these systems have met the design goals and have proven to be very reliable. The controller is described, its operational performance presented, and a typical fermentation run delineated.     

Role of Pili (Fimbriae) in Attachment of Bradyrhizobium japonicum to Soybean Roots

Pili (fimbriae) were observed on cells of each of the five strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and the one strain of Rhizobium trifolii examined. Pili on B. japonicum were about 4 nm in diameter and polarly expressed. Piliated cells were estimated by transmission electron microscopy and hydrophobic attachment to polystyrene to constitute only a small percentage of the total population. The proportion of piliated cells in these populations was dependent on culture age in some strains. Piliated B. japonicum cells were selectively and quantitatively removed from suspension when cultures were incubated with either soybean roots or hydrophobic plastic surfaces, indicating that pili were involved in the attachment of the bacteria to these surfaces. Pili from B. japonicum 110 ARS were purified and found to have a subunit molecular weight of approximately 21,000. Treatment of B. japonicum suspensions with antiserum against the isolated pili reduced attachment to soybean roots by about 90% and nodulation by about 80%. Pili appear to be important mediators of attachment of B. japonicum to soybean roots under the conditions examined.     

Biosynthesis and secretion of alpha 1 acute-phase globulin in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

Experimental inflammation in rats led to a sevenfold increase in serum levels of alpha 1 acute-phase globulin. This increase is correlated with elevated levels of translatable mRNA for alpha 1 acute-phase globulin in the liver. Biosynthesis and secretion of alpha 1 acute-phase globulin were studied in rat hepatocyte primary cultures. An intracellular form of alpha 1 acute-phase globulin with an apparent relative molecular mass of 63 500 and a secreted form of 68 000 were found. The intracellular form of alpha 1 acute-phase globulin could be deglycosylated by endoglucosaminidase H treatment indicating that its oligosaccharide chains were of the high-mannose type. The secreted form of alpha 1 acute-phase globulin was not sensitive to endoglucosaminidase H, but was susceptible to the action of sialidase reflecting carbohydrate side-chains of the complex type. Pulse-chase experiments revealed a precursor-product relationship for the high-mannose and the complex type alpha 1 acute-phase globulin. In the hepatocyte medium newly synthesized alpha 1 acute-phase globulin was detected 30 min after the pulse. Unglycosylated alpha 1 acute-phase globulin was found in the cells as well as in the medium when the transfer of oligosaccharide chains onto the polypeptide chains was blocked by tunicamycin. Tunicamycin led to a marked delay in alpha 1 acute-phase globulin secretion.     

EBV-inducing factor from platelets exhibits growth-promoting activity for NIH 3T3 cells.

An Epstein-Barr virus-indicating factor (EIF) has been purified from serum and platelets. We show here that highly purified preparations of platelet EIF exhibit growth-promoting activity for NIH 3T3 cells maintained in platelet-poor plasma. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-inducing activity and growth-promoting activity co-elute upon gel chromatography under non-dissociating as well as dissociating conditions and co-migrate in SDS-gel electrophoresis, supporting the notion that both activities reside on the same molecule. Furthermore, both activities require a pH shock for full activity and act in the same concentration range. The growth-promoting activity of EIF can be differentiated from that of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), biologically (on the basis of differential response of cell lines to both factors), biochemically (on the basis of differences in isoelectric points and mol. wts. and the requirement of EIF to become activated by a pH shock) and by the lack of inhibition of EIF by antibody to PDGF.