Microsequence analysis of peptides and proteins. V. Design and performance of a novel gas-liquid-solid phase instrument

We describe the construction and performance of a novel, automated, Edman chemistry-based microsequencer. The reagent and solvent delivery system, the reaction cartridge for coupling and cleavage, and the conversion flask are all constructed from chemically inert perfluoroelastomers. The delivery valves are of a new design incorporating the use of electromagnetically actuated solenoids and zero-dead-volume construction, and may be connected in a modular fashion resulting in multiple inputs with a single output line which can be flushed with inert gas. The bottle closures are of a new design based on an all-Teflon compression fitting. The reaction cartridge and conversion flask are thermostated by solid-state heaters in an aluminum block. The overall size of the instrument is 25 X 34 X 14 in. The chemistry utilizes 2% aqueous triethylamine as the coupling base which is delivered to the reaction cartridge via a stream of nitrogen. The "gas-phase" delivery of the coupling base and the cleavage acid (trifluoroacetic acid) is modeled after the method described by R. M. Hewick et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 256, 7990-7997,1981). The instrument has performed well over a period of 3 years in terms of low background peaks, sensitivity in the picomole range, and reliability of operation. The use of economical components, ease of construction and operation, and sensitive analytical capability make this instrument a useful tool for microsequence analysis of peptides and proteins.     

Random association of Epstein-Barr virus genomes with host cell metaphase chromosomes in Burkitt''s lymphoma-derived cell lines.

The random association of Epstein-Barr virus DNA with host cell metaphase chromosomes of all sizes in Burkitt's lymphoma-derived cell lines was demonstrated by two substantially different techniques, namely fluorescence-activated chromosome sorting and in situ hybridization. The nature and potential importance of this association are discussed.     

The major albumin protein from pea (Pisum sativum L.)

The major albumin protein in storage parenchyma tissue of developing peas has been localised at an ultrastructural level by immunocytochemistry. Tissue was fixed in buffered aldehyde and embedded in LR White resin which was polymerised by addition of catalyst. Sections were labelled by the indirect method of absorption of Protein A-gold to specifically bound antibodies. This method gives high levels of specific labelling on sections which retain good ultrastructural preservation and have high contrast after conventional staining. The albumin is located throughout the cytoplasm although no labelling was found associated with the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, vacuoles-protein bodies or other organelles.Abbreviation PMA pea major albumin protein     

Conversion of atriopeptin II to atriopeptin I by atrial dipeptidyl carboxy hydrolase

We are examining the substrate specificity of atrial dipeptidyl carboxyhydrolase, a membrane-bound metallo enzyme that we isolated from bovine atrial tissue homogenates. This enzyme readily removes the dipeptide, Phe-Arg, from Bz-Gly-Ser-Phe-Arg, a stand-in substrate for atriopeptin II, one of several atrial natriuretic factors. We now report that the atrial enzyme cleaves the C-terminal dipeptide, Phe-Arg, from atriopeptin II to form atriopeptin I. The km (pH 7.5) is 25 microM and the ratio of relative Vmax/km as a measure of substrate specificity indicates that atriopeptin II is a 240-fold better substrate than Bz-Gly-His-Leu. Only Phe-Arg was detected as a hydrolysis product, indicating that sequential cleavage of Asn-Ser from atriopeptin II does not occur, and that atriopeptin I is not a substrate. Bz-Gly-Asn-Ser was as good a substrate for the atrial enzyme as Bz-Gly-His-Leu, but Bz-Cys(bzl)-Asn-Ser was not hydrolyzed. This result suggests that the presence of an intact disulfide bond or an S-alkylated residue in the P1 position of a substrate (as in atriopeptin I) prevents hydrolysis by the atrial enzyme. Comparative studies were made with the angiotensin I converting enzyme. Atriopeptin II was not a substrate. The stand-in substrates for atriopeptin I, Bz-Cys(bzl)-Asn-Ser and Bz-Gly-Asn-Ser were barely hydrolyzed, which by itself suggests that atriopeptin I is not a substrate of the angiotensin converting enzyme. Our results strongly suggest that atriopeptin II is converted to atriopeptin I and that hydrolysis is mediated by the atrial enzyme. The angiotensin I converting enzyme plays no role in processing these peptides. We suggest that the atrial enzyme be named atrial peptide convertase.     

Epitope distribution and immunochemical characterization of nucleolar phosphoprotein C23 using ten monoclonal antibodies

Summary Extractable nucleolar proteins from HeLa cells were used as a source of antigen to immunize mice for monoclonal antibody (MAb) production. Ten of the resulting MAbs shown to identify nucleolar phosphoprotein (110 kD/pI 5.5) were purified and used in immunochemical studies to further characterize protein C23. All ten MAbs showed nucleolar localization by indirect immunofluorescence; one antibody (FR2) also showed some nucleoplasmic localization that was attributed to a shared epitope between protein C23 and a 72 kD nuclear/nucleolar antigen. Reciprocal antibody cross blocking studies indicated that the ten MAbs identified nine distinct epitopes on protein C23. Interestingly, seven of the nine epitopes were shown by immunofluorescence and competitive ELISA studies to be species related. Immunostained patterns of exponentially growing HeLa cells suggest that protein C23 exists in vivo solely as a 110 kD peptide. However, protein C23 was subject to rapid degradation into a number of proteolytic fragments upon extraction or storage of isolated nucleoli. The failure to find protein C23 related peptides with molecular sizes less than 110 kD in exponentially growing cells and the lack of cytoplasmic localization of any of the ten MAbs suggests that protein C23 is not a prepro-protein processed in vivo to form ribosomal proteins as previously suggested (1).     

Craniofacial and mucopolysaccharide abnormalities in Kniest dysplasia

Serial roentgencephalograms of a male patient with Kniest dysplasia were obtained between 1 7/12 and 11 3/12 years of age and were analyzed and compared to cephalometric normative data. The patient displayed macrocephaly with increased size of the neurocranium in all three dimensions. The cranial base angle was significantly flattened, partly as a result of anterior displacement of the sella turcica. The odontoid process was short and wide. At 11 years of age there was bony fusion between the anterior arch of the atlas and the odontoid process as well as between the posterior arch of the atlas and the cranial base. The facial skeleton, including the nasal bones, infra-orbital rims, maxilla and mandible, was retropositioned relative to the anterior cranial base. The mandibular retrognathia was pronounced at an early age but improved with growth. At age 11 years the patient had a straight facial skeletal profile. Examination of the patient's 24-hour urinary excretion of keratan sulfate revealed values markedly elevated for his age. Three additional patients with Kniest dysplasia demonstrated similarly increased excretion of this glycosaminoglycan. The diagnosis of Kniest dysplasia can usually be made from roentgenograms of the extremities, the spine, and the pelvis. However, the morphologic characteristics of the head, as shown by cephalometric analysis, and the increased urinary excretion of keratan sulfate add confirmatory evidence useful in differential diagnosis.     

Insects associated with the Sitka spruce weevil,Pissodes Strobi [Col.: Curculionidae] on Sitka spruce,Picea sitchensis in British Columbia,Canada

BioControl - Insects associated with the Sitka spruce weevil,Pissodes strobi (Peck), on Sitka spruce,Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. were sampled at 9 locations in British Columbia. Fourteen species...     

Metabolic response of equine muscle to intermittent maximal exercise

Four thoroughbred horses performed 4 gallops (G1-G4) with intervals of 5 min. With one exception, gallops were sustained at maximal speed over 620 m. Muscle biopsy samples of the middle gluteal and brachiocephalicus were taken before, during, and after exercise and assayed for ATP and intermediary metabolites. The results showed a major involvement of the brachiocephalicus, in addition to the middle gluteal, during galloping. In three horses, who were clearly fatigued, muscle ATP decreased by up to 50% by the end of G4. This was matched by an equal rise in inosine 5'-monophosphate. Pronounced accumulations of glycerol 3-phosphate, glycerol, and lactate (up to 204 mmol X kg dry muscle-1) occurred with exercise. In the fourth horse, which was less fatigued, a decrease in ATP and increases in intermediary metabolites were much less. Postexercise there was little or no recovery in muscle ATP or lactate during 30 min. The decreases in ATP are consistent with a high activity of adenosine 5'-monophosphate deaminase in horse muscle and indicative also of the high level of anaerobic stress of the exercise program. There was evidence to suggest that the increase in muscle glycerol resulted from hydrolysis of glycerol 3-phosphate and not from the utilization of triglyceride.     

Identification of a tumor inhibitory factor in rat ascites fluid

A polypeptide which inhibits the growth of human carcinoma cells has been characterized from Novikoff rat ascites fluid. This tumor inhibitory factor co-purified with transforming growth factor activity through acid/ethanol extraction and Bio-Gel chromatography. The two activities were completely separated by reverse phase HPLC. The tumor inhibitory factor is heat stable and requires disulfide bonds for bioactivity. This factor inhibited the anchorage independent growth of the more differentiated human colon carcinoma cell lines but did not affect the less differentiated carcinoma cells. The presence of stimulatory and inhibitory activities in the same extracts suggests that the relative concentrations of these factors may be important in the control of cell growth.     

Distribution of calcium during interphase and mitosis as observed by ion microscopy

The ion microscope, based on secondary ion mass spectrometry, has been used to demonstrate the distribution of calcium in the root tip cells of two plant species, Allium cepa and Vicia faba. Interphase nuclei showed higher intensities of calcium than cytoplasm, while nucleoli exhibited higher calcium intensities than the rest of the nucleoplasm. The chromosomes showed high intensities of calcium at all stages of mitosis. Calcium was also detected in the cell plate and phragmoplast region of dividing cells. It appears that during prophase calcium concentrates in the condensing chromosomes, and during telophase it is transferred to nucleoli. These observations suggest that chromosomes may serve as a reservoir of calcium during mitosis.