Quantitative proteomic approach to study subcellular localization of membrane proteins

As proteins within cells are spatially organized according to their role, knowledge about protein localization gives insight into protein function. Here, we describe the LOPIT technique (localization of organelle proteins by isotope tagging) developed for the simultaneous and confident determination of the steady-state distribution of hundreds of integral membrane proteins within organelles. The technique uses a partial membrane fractionation strategy in conjunction with quantitative proteomics. Localization of proteins is achieved by measuring their distribution pattern across the density gradient using amine-reactive isotope tagging and comparing these patterns with those of known organelle residents. LOPIT relies on the assumption that proteins belonging to the same organelle will co-fractionate. Multivariate statistical tools are then used to group proteins according to the similarities in their distributions, and hence localization without complete centrifugal separation is achieved. The protocol requires approximately 3 weeks to complete and can be applied in a high-throughput manner to material from many varied sources.     

ACC oxidase from Carica papaya: Isolation and characterization

Most of the studies done on 1‐aminocyclopropane 1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase were done in vivo. It is only recently that in vitro studies have been carried out successfully on the enzyme. Here we report on in vitro studies of the enzyme that was isolated from Carica papaya . The enzyme had a K_m of 37 µ M and was inhibited by n ‐propyl gallate (0.240 m M ), sodium dithionite (0.022 m M ), sodium metabisulphite (0.021 m M ) and cobalt sulphate (0.100 m M ). The activity of the enzyme increased with ripening, the enzyme was somewhat labile and activity was lost after 4 days at 14°C; activity was prolonged when the crude homogenate was kept at −15°C. Isolation and purification were achieved with ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by gel‐filtration (Sephadex G 100‐120) and ion‐exchange chromatography (DEAE‐Sephadex). Gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme gave a single band which corresponded to a molecular mass of 27.5 kDa. The amino acid content of the enzyme showed a relatively high percentage of valine (10.4%). Enzyme activity was enhanced when dithiothreitol (3 m M ) and bicarbonate ion (30 m M ) were added to the assay medium. The production of ethylene from Carica papaya did not require pretreatment of the fruit with ethylene.     

Chemical biology: Paper alert

A selection of interesting papers that were published in the two months before our press date in major journals most likely to report significant results in chemical biology.     

A critical review on brain and heart axis response in COVID-19 patients: Molecular mechanisms,mediators, biomarkers,and therapeutics

Since the outbreak of highly virulent coronaviruses, significant interest was assessed to the brain and heart axis (BHA) in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-affected patients. The majority of clinical reports accounted for unusual symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections which are of the neurological type, such as headache, nausea, dysgeusia, anosmia, and cerebral infarction. The SARS-CoV-2 enters the cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE-2) receptor. Patients with prior cardiovascular disease (CVD) have a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and it has related to various cardiovascular (CV) complications. Infected patients with pre-existing CVDs are also particularly exposed to critical health outcomes. Overall, COVID-19 affected patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) and exposed to stressful environmental constraints, featured with a cluster of neurological and CV complications. In this review, we summarized the main contributions in the literature on how SARS-CoV-2 could interfere with the BHA and its role in affecting multiorgan disorders. Specifically, the central nervous system involvement, mainly in relation to CV alterations in COVID-19-affected patients, is considered. This review also emphasizes the biomarkers and therapy options for COVID-19 patients presenting with CV problems.     

Phosphate uptake into organic compounds in skeletal muscle.

Isolated intact frog muscles were incubated in 32-P-labelled Ringer's solution for various periods of time (30 s-20 h). Labelled compounds were isolated from TCA, methanol-chloroform-water, and water extracts of muscle. Hexosephosphates, phosphocreatine, phosphoenolphyruvate, alpha-glycerol phosphate, adenosine triphosphate, and inorganic phosphate were identified after 30 s, and 4 h incubation. Much more labelling was found after 20 h. The incorporation of 32-P in 30 s into organic phosphate compounds, such as alpha-glycerol phosphate and ATP, showed that immediate esterification of Pi occured on, or just inside, the sarcolemma.     

Pre-incubation of subcellular fractions from rat cerebral cortex inactivates protein phosphorylation.

Pre-incubation of various subcellular fractions from rat brain caused a significant decrease in the phosphorylation of individual polypeptides. The rate and extent of this loss of labelling was not uniform and polypeptides whose phosphorylation was independent of cyclic AMP were primarily affected, whereas substrate availability remained unaltered. It is recommended that pre-incubation effects must be carefully monitored if valid conclusions are to be made about the physiological relevance of changes in protein phosphorylation observed in vitro.     

Improving diagnostic yield of biliary brushings cytology for pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma

Biliary brushings are currently the best accepted method to obtain a cytological diagnosis of pancreatic cancer or cholangiocarcinoma. The technique has good specificity but poor sensitivity. Two dedicated pathologists reviewed 137 consecutive biliary brushings from 127 patients between February 1997 and February 2000. The ultimate diagnosis was determined by review of radiology, operative diagnosis and patient outcome. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the original results and the review results were calculated and compared. Additional diagnostic categories 'suspicious' and 'atypical possibly benign' were included on review. After review, the sensitivity improved from 49.4% to 89.0% and the specificity remained 100%. The use of the additional diagnostic category 'suspicious' increased the sensitivity to 90.4%, at the expense of a fall of the specificity to 66.7%. We conclude that review by two dedicated pathologists and additional diagnostic categories can improve the diagnostic accuracy of biliary brushings.