Mixtures of a series of homologous hydrophobic peptides with lipid bilayers: a simple model system for examining the protein-lipid interface

The interactions of several members of a homologous series of peptides with the phospholipid bilayer have been examined by using fluorescence and deuterium NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and measurements of water-to-bilayer partition coefficients. 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) bilayers and tripeptides of the form Ala-X-Ala-O-tert-butyl are used as a model system to probe the influence of amino acid side-chain substitution on the insertion of peptides into membranes and the behavior of peptide/bilayer mixtures. Tripeptides with X = Gly, Ala, Phe, and Trp have been examined. All of the tripeptides are water soluble, and all partition into DMPC bilayer vesicles to some extent. The Gly-containing peptide is the least soluble and the Trp-containing peptide the most soluble in the bilayer. The extent of perturbation of the bilayer structure induced by the peptides parallels their bilayer solubility: the Gly and Ala peptides act as simple impurities while peptides containing bulky aromatic rings cause a phase separation. Changes in the fluorescence properties of the Trp analogue upon incorporation into the bilayer indicate that the Trp side chain is probably immersed in the hydrocarbon region of the bilayer. Peptides of this form should serve as easily modifiable model systems with which to examine details of how the bilayer environment affects peptide conformation, as well as how hydrophobic peptides affect the bilayer structure.     

A comparison of fragile X expression in lymphocyte and lymphoblastoid cultures

This study compares fragile X expression in peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures with expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines established from 23 individuals from families in which the fragile X is segregating. Most patients expressed the fragile X in lymphoblastoid cell lines treated with FUdR under optimal conditions at approximately the same frequency as in peripheral blood cultures from the same individual. No fragile X cells were seen in the lymphoblastoid cell lines from three phenotypically normal males who had transmitted the fragile X gene to offspring or in the lines from three phenotypically normal obligate-carrier females, all of whom were also negative in peripheral blood cultures. Two individuals, however, who expressed at high levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes expressed in lymphoblastoid cells only at low levels or not at all. We describe the considerations needed for the consistent demonstration of the fragile X in lymphoblastoid cell lines.     

Effect of hypoxia on the initiation of secondary wool follicles in the fetus

The development of secondary wool follicles in single fetal sheep subjected to hypobaric hypoxaemia was studied. One group of pregnant ewes were exposed to 57.1 kPa from 30 to 135 days gestation. Fetal weights (mean +/- s.d.) for the hypoxaemic group (3.35 +/- 0.53 kg; n = 4) were significantly lower than for the controls (4.19 +/- 0.31 kg; n = 3, P less than 0.05). At 110 days gestation, a second group had arterial and venous catheters surgically implanted into the ewe and fetus and skin samples were taken from the fetus. At 120 days gestation (10 days after surgery) these animals were subjected to hypoxia for 20 days, at a level to maintain fetal carotid pO2 between 1.47 and 1.87 kPa (mean carotid pO2 for the control fetuses was 2.84 +/- 0.28 kPa). Fetal weight at 140 days was not significantly different in the hypoxaemic and control groups. Morphometric analysis revealed that the secondary to primary follicle ratio (S:P) was less in both groups of hypoxaemic fetuses than in their respective controls. Although hypoxia for 20 days did not significantly alter fetal weight, it produced a low S:P ratio similar to the longer-term hypoxaemic animals. It is concluded that hypoxia has a marked effect in reducing the initiation of secondary follicles in the last third of gestation.     

The effects of reserpine and haloperidol on tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the brains of aged rats

Many neurotransmitter systems appear to be altered with aging. The effects of aging on the regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of catecholamines in the brain has been examined. The endogenous basal activity of tyrosine hydroxylase was lower in the hypothalamus of 24 month old Fisher 344 rats than in the hypothalamus of 3 month old or 6 month old animals. There was no difference in the basal activity of tyrosine hydroxylase in the locus ceruleus, frontal cortex, hippocampus, substantia nigra, or the striatum of rats of ages 3 months, 6 months and 24 months. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity was increased in the striatum of 3 month old (60%) and 6 month old (28%) rats after treatment with haloperidol or reserpine, whereas no change in enzyme activity followed administration of these drugs to 24 month old animals. In conclusion, increases in tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the brain that normally occur in the striatum of 3 month old rats after haloperidol or reserpine treatment are significantly decreased in 6 month old rats and not apparent in 24 month old rats.     

Complete glycosylation of the insulin and insulin-like growth factor I receptors is not necessary for their biosynthesis and function. Use of swainsonine as an inhibitor in IM-9 cells

Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid which is a potent inhibitor of the Golgi enzyme, mannosidase II, leads to the production of incompletely processed glycoproteins lacking complex type oligosaccharides. This inhibitor has been used to examine the importance of terminal sugar groups in the biosynthesis and function of both the insulin receptor and the insulin-like growth factor I receptor. IM-9 cells were metabolically labeled using [35S]methionine and the two receptors were independently immunoprecipitated using specific monoclonal antibodies. The incompletely processed receptors have slightly lower molecular weights and contain hybrid rather than complex type oligosaccharides as indicated by their sensitivity to endoglycosidase H and neuraminidase. Both receptors made in the presence of swainsonine are still autophosphorylated in the presence of the respective hormone. The insulin receptor made in the presence of the inhibitor can be affinity labeled at the cell surface using 125I-insulin and disuccinimidyl suberate cross-linking; there is also no significant difference in its affinity for insulin. These results suggest that for the insulin and insulin-like growth factor I receptors to be synthesized, processed, and function normally, they do not require all of the sugars which are normally added in the terminal stages of glycosylation.     

Reversible inactivation of vasopressin and angiotensin II binding to hepatocyte membranes by a calcium-dependent, cytosolic protein

A cytosolic protein is described which inhibits the binding of vasopressin and angiotensin to their rat liver receptors in the presence of calcium. The binding of insulin and transferrin was unaffected. Inhibition was temperature-dependent; it was maximal in 10 min at 37 degrees C, but required longer incubation times at lower temperatures. The pH optimum was 7.4. Inhibition also required the presence of calcium, with half-maximal inhibition at 6-8 microM calcium, but did not require any other low molecular weight cofactors. Inhibition could be reversed by washing the membranes at pH 5.5, but not by incubation with EGTA. Sephacryl S-300 chromatography showed that activity eluted in two peaks with approximate molecular weights of 70,000 and 150,000. In the presence of calcium, the inhibitory activity eluted at 150,000; in the absence of calcium, most of the inhibitory activity eluted at 70,000. A radiolabeled cytosolic protein with a molecular weight of 70,000 was eluted from inhibited rat liver membranes at pH 5.5 as analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We propose that vasopressin and angiotensin II, which both mobilize calcium in hepatocytes via phosphatidylinositol turnover, can, by this same mechanism, activate a protein(s) which reduces further binding to their receptors.     

Effect of chemical modifications on the K99 and K88ab fibrillar adhesins of Escherichia coli

The role of specific amino acid residues of the K88ab and K99 fibrillar adhesins in the binding to erythrocytes and antibodies has been studied by chemical modification. It appeared that: (1) The integrity of the single disulfide bridge in the K99 subunits is essential for the binding of the fibrillae to the glycolipid receptors, but not for the recognition and binding of specific anti-K99 antibodies. (2) Modification of one lysine residue per subunit with 4-chloro-3,5-dinitrobenzoate results in the loss of the adhesive capacity of K99 fibrillae. Lysine residue are not important for the adhesive activity of K88ab fibrillae. Three or five lysine residues per subunit, respectively, can be modified without an effect on the immunological properties of the K99 and K88ab fibrillae. (3) Limited reaction of K99 and K88ab fibrillae with 2,3-butanedione destroys the adhesive activity of both fibrillae. This inactivation corresponds with the loss of one (K99) or two (K88ab) arginine residues per subunit. Ultimately, in K99 three, and in K88ab four, arginine residues per subunit can be modified without affecting the binding of specific antibodies. (4) Modification of five out of the nine carboxyl groups contained in the K99 subunit suppresses the recognition of specific anti-K99 antibodies, but carboxylates are not important for the adhesive activity of K99 fibrillae. Modification of two additional carboxylates in K99 results in an insoluble product. (5) Tyrosine residues are most probably not present in the adhesive or antigenic sites of K99 fibrillae. Modification of six out of the ten tyrosine residues in the K88ab subunit results in a decrease in adhesive activity but has no effect on the reaction with anti-K88ab antibodies.     

The contribution of endogenous and exogenous effects to radiation-induced damage in the bacterial spore

Radical scavengers such as polyethylene glycol 400 and 4000 and bovine albumin have been used to define the contribution of exogenous and endogenous effects to the gamma-radiation-induced damage in aqueous buffered suspensions of Bacillus pumilus spores. The results indicate that this damage in the bacterial spore is predominantly endogenous both in the presence of 1 atmosphere of oxygen, and in anoxia.     

Preparation of multilamellar vesicles of defined size-distribution by solvent-spherule evaporation

A novel method of preparing multilamellar vesicles is described. The process involves dispersing in aqueous solutions small spherules of volatile hydrophobic solvents in which amphipathic lipids are dissolved. The lipids form vesicles when the solvents are evaporated in the proper manner. The resulting vesicles have been characterized morphologically with microscopy and electron microscopy. The method yields multilamellar vesicles with a defined size distribution which can be adjusted by varying the duration of mechanical agitation of the spherules and by varying the concentration of amphipathic lipids in the solvents. This is the first fundamentally new method of multilamellar vesicle preparation since Bangham's report in 1965 (Bangham, A.D., Standish, M.M. and Watkins, J.C. (1965) J. Mol. Biol. 13, 238-252).