Extracellular Ca2(+)-dependent inducible alkaline phosphatase from extremely halophilic archaebacterium Haloarcula marismortui.

When starved of inorganic phosphate, the extremely halophilic archaebacterium Haloarcula marismortui produces the enzyme alkaline phosphatase and secretes it to the medium. This inducible extracellular enzyme is a glycoprotein whose subunit molecular mass is 160 kDa, as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis. The native form of the enzyme is heterogeneous and composed of multiple oligomeric forms. The enzymatic activity of the halophilic alkaline phosphatase is maximal at pH 8.5, and the enzyme is inhibited by phosphate. Unlike most alkaline phosphatases, the halobacterial enzyme requires Ca2+ and not Zn2+ ions for its activity. Both calcium ions (in the millimolar range) and NaCl (in the molar range) are required for the stability of the enzyme.     

Inhibition by adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate of eicosanoid and platelet-activating factor biosynthesis in the mouse PT-18 mast cell.

A mouse spleen-derived mast cell line (PT-18) was employed to examine the mechanisms of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-mediated inhibition of antigen-induced lipid mediator biosynthesis. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that increasing cAMP in mast cells inhibits lipid mediator biosynthesis by a mechanism independent of effects on histamine release (degranulation) or changes in cytosolic calcium concentration. Forskolin inhibited antigen-induced prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), leukotriene C4 (LTC4), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production by 30-50%. In contrast, forskolin had no inhibitory effect on antigen-induced increases in cytosolic calcium concentration, as monitored by the calcium indicator fura-2, or histamine release from the cells. The combination of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine with forskolin inhibited the antigen-induced production of PGD2 and LTC4 by 90-100% and histamine release by about 60%. These responses were accompanied by a virtual abolition of the antigen-induced increase in cytosolic calcium. To test further the hypothesis that increasing cAMP can lead to inhibition of lipid mediator biosynthesis in the absence of effects on cytosolic calcium, we employed the calcium ionophores A23187 and ionomycin. Forskolin alone or in combination with isobutylmethylxanthine had no effect on ionophore-induced increases in cytosolic calcium but effectively inhibited leukotriene biosynthesis. In addition, increasing cyclic AMP led to an inhibition of ionophore-induced production of platelet-activating factor and liberation of arachidonic acid. These data suggest that a relatively modest increase in cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in mast cells leads to inhibition of the lipase-catalyzed cleavage of arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids in the absence of measurable effects on either histamine release or changes in cytosolic calcium concentration. This effect results in a selective inhibition of the biosynthesis of lipid mediators including LTC4, LTB4, PGD2, and platelet-activating factor.     

Modifications of position 12 in parathyroid hormone and parathyroid hormone related protein: toward the design of highly potent antagonists

Truncated N-terminal fragments of parathyroid hormone (PTH), [Tyr34]bovine PTH(7-34)NH2, and parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP), PTHrP(7-34)NH2, inhibit [Nle8,18,[125I]iodo-Tyr34]-bPTH(1-34)NH2 binding and PTH-stimulated adenylate cyclase in bone and kidney assays. However, the receptor interactions of these peptides are 2-3 orders of magnitude weaker than those of their agonist counterparts. To produce an antagonist with increased receptor-binding affinity but lacking agonist-like properties, structure-function studies were undertaken. Glycine at position 12 (present in all homologues of PTH and in PTHrP), which is predicted in both hormones to participate in a beta-turn, was examined by substituting conformational reporters, such as D- or L-Ala, Pro, and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib), in both agonist and antagonist analogues. Except for N-substituted amino acids, which substantially diminished potency, substitutions were well tolerated, indicating that this site can accept a wide latitude of modifications. To augment receptor avidity, hydrophobic residues compatible with helical secondary structure were introduced. Incorporation of the nonnatural amino acids D-Trp, D-alpha-naphthylalanine (D-alpha-Nal), or D-beta-Nal into either [Tyr34]bPTH(7-34)NH2 or [Nle8,18,Tyr34]bPTH(7-34)NH2 resulted in antagonists that were about 10-fold more active than their respective 7-34 parent compound. Similarly, [D-Trp12]PTHrP(7-34)NH2 was 6 times more potent than the unsubstituted peptide but retained partial agonistic properties, although markedly reduced, similar to PTHrP(7-34)NH2. The antagonistic potentiating effect was configurationally specific.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

An analog of ACTH/MSH (4–9), ORG-2766, reduces cerebral uptake of morphine

The uptake of morphine was significantly reduced in most regions of the brains of conscious, unrestrained rats within 10 minutes after treatment with an analog of ACTH/MSH (4–9), ORG-2766. The effect was most obvious in regions with significant densities of enkephalin receptors, namely basal ganglia, hippocampus and cortex. The results explain, in part, how some fragments and analogs of ACTH/MSH may antagonize behavioral actions of morphine, even though some of these peptides lack significant opiate receptor binding properties. We believe that this effect of ORG-2766 is related to an action on the permeability characteristics of the brain microvasculature. The underlying mechanism is unknown.     

Hereditary heat-labile hexosaminidase B: its implication for recognizing Tay-Sachs genotypes

Two pairs of alleles, at the two loci of hexosaminidase (HEX), were found to segregate in an Arab inbred family: the normal and the mutant Tay-Sachs (TSD) alleles of HEX A, and the normal and a mutant allele of HEX B. Since the mutant HEX B is heat labile, no reliable identification of TSD genotypes can be obtained in its presence, as long as the proportions of HEX A and B are estimated by the routinely used heat-inactivation method. The genotypes may be correctly identified in such cases by separation of the two isoenzymes on ion-exchange chromatography, estimating their individual activities, and calculating the ratio between them. Of the nine genotype combinations possible with these two pairs of alleles, five have been identified in the reported family by this procedure.     

A surface polysaccharide of Escherichia coli O111 contains O-antigen and inhibits agglutination of cells by O-antiserum

The repeating pentasaccharide of O-antigen from Escherichia coli O111 contains galactose, glucose, N-acetylglucosamine, and colitose, the latter representing the major antigenic determinant. Phenol extraction of this strain was previously shown to release two fractions (I and II) containing O-antigen carbohydrate, and both fractions were believed to be lipopolysaccharide. We have now characterized fractions I and II and conclude that only fraction II represents lipopolysaccharide. Fraction II contains phosphate, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate, beta-hydroxymyristic acid, and potent endotoxin activity, whereas fraction I was deficient in all of these properties of the lipid A and core oligosaccharide regions of lipopolysaccharide. Fractions I and II each represented 50% of the total cellular O-antigen, and both were present on the cell surface. Both fractions were metabolically stable, and no precursor-product relationship existed between them. Fraction II had a number-average molecular weight of 15,800, corresponding to an average of 12 O-antigen repeats per molecule. In contrast, fraction I had a number-average molecular weight of 354,000, corresponding to an average of 404 O-antigen repeats per molecule. Before heat treatment, cells of E. coli O111 are poorly agglutinated by O-serum; although this indicates the presence of a capsule, the corresponding K-antigen was never detected. We conclude that fraction I, when present on the cell surface, inhibits agglutination of unheated cultures of E. coli O111 by O-serum because: (i) a variant strain which lacks fraction I was agglutinated by O-serum without prior heating; (ii) erythrocytes coated with purified fraction I behaved like bacteria containing fraction I in showing inhibition of O-serum agglutination; and (iii) heat treatment released fraction I and rendered bacterial cells agglutinable in O-serum.     

Specific binding of leukotriene B4 to receptors on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Leukotriene B4 (5(S),12(R)-di-hydroxy-eicosa-6,14-cis-8,10-trans-tetraenoic acid [LTB4]) is a product of the 5-lipoxygenation of arachidonic acid, which elicits human PMN leukocyte chemotactic responses in vitro that are 50% of the maximal level at concentrations of 3 X 10(-9) M to 10(-8) M and are maximal at 2 X 10(-8) M to 10(-7) M. The specific binding of highly purified [3H]LTB4 to human PMN leukocytes was assessed both by extracting the unbound and weakly bound [3H]LTB4 with acetone at -78 degrees C and by centrifuging the PMN leukocytes through cushions of phthalate oil to separate the unbound from bound [3H]LTB4. The levels of total binding of [3H]LTB4 and of nonspecific binding of [3H]LTB4, in the presence of a 1500-fold molar excess of nonradioactive LTB4, were approximately two times higher with the phthalate oil method. Scatchard plots of the concentration dependence of the specific binding (total - nonspecific binding) of [3H]LTB4 to PMN leukocytes were linear for the acetone extraction and phthalate oil methods and revealed dissociation constants of 10.8 X 10(-9) M and 13.9 X 10(-9) M, respectively, and mean of 2.6 X 10(4) and 4.0 X 10(4) receptors per PMN leukocyte. The 5(S),12(S)-all-trans-di-HETE analog of LTB4 and 5-HETE competitively inhibited by 50% the binding of [3H]LTB4 to PMN leukocytes at respective concentrations that evoked half-maximal chemotactic responses, whereas neither N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine nor chemotactic fragments of C5 inhibited the binding. Human erythrocytes exhibited no specific binding sites for [3H]LTB4. Human PMN leukocytes possess a subset of receptors for LTB4 that are distinct from those specific for peptide chemotactic factors.     

Selective isolation and culture of a proliferating epithelial cell population from the hamster trachea

Summary A reliable cell isolation technique was developed to allow the cultivation of cells from the hamster respiratory tract. Repeated thermolysin treatments and gradient centrifugation yielded a cell culture completely free from contamination by fibroblasts. Viable cells could be isolated from as little tissue as a single hamster trachea, but in vitro proliferation occurred only if the hamster was less than 4 months of age. The cultured cells could be repeatedly passaged and subcultured for weeks by employing normal tissue culture techniques. Morphologically, the monolayers appeared to be a homogeneous population of epithelial cells, and successful cloning of freshly isolated single cells resulted in apparently identical cultures. The epithelial origin of these cells was also suggested by continued growth in minimum essential medium withd-valine substituted forl-valine. The relative ease with which this cell type can be isolated, cultured, and manipulated in vitro should encourage its application as a model of the respiratory epithelium. This research was supported by Public Health Service Grant P50-HL 19171 and Research Career Development Award 1-K04-AI 00178 to J. B. B.     

Isolation and partial characterization of membrane protein constituents of human neutrophil receptors for chemotactic formylmethionyl peptides

Plasma membranes of human neutrophils were solubilized in buffer containing a nonionic detergent and applied to a formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe)-Sepharose column that was washed and eluted with the chemotactic peptide fMet-Leu-Phe. Analysis of the eluate by filtration on Bio-Gel P150 in sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDodSO4) buffer and by NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed three predominant membrane proteins of approximate molecular weight 94 000 (MP-1), 68 000 (MP-2), and 40 000 (MP-3), of which MP-2 accounted for 74--93% of the total protein. Purified MP-1 and MP-2 contained an above average content of hydrophobic amino acids, while MP-2 and MP-3 had an above average content of acid and/or amide amino acids and a below average content of basic amino acids. MP-2 and MP-3, but not MP-1, bound [3H]fMet-Leu-Phe in equilibrium dialysis chambers. Both MP-2 and MP-3 exhibited high-affinity sites with a valence of 0.2--0.3 and mean KA values of 9 x 10(8) and 2 x 10(7) M-1, respectively, and low-affinity sites with a valence of 0.3--0.5 and mean KA values of 3 x 10(7) and 2 x 10(6) M-1 (n = 3). The specificity of the binding of fMet-Leu-Phe was suggested by the failure of MP-2 and MP-3 to bind lipid chemotactic factors and to adhere to a Sepaharose column to which had been coupled chemotactic fragments of the fifth component of complement. A series of synthetic formylmethionyl peptides exhibited the same rank order of potency as inhibitors of the binding of [3H]fMet-Leu-Phe by MP-2 and as stimuli of neutrophil chemotaxis. Membrane proteins isolated by fMet-Leu-Phe-Sepharose affinity chromatography may represent constituents of specific human neutrophil receptors for chemotactic peptides.     

Sensory adaptation and deadaptation by Bacillus subtilis.

Cells of Bacillus subtilis, when tethered by using antiflagellar antibody, rotate briefly counterclockwise (swimming behavior) or clockwise (tumbling behavior) when amino acids are added or removed, respectively. "Dissociation constants" for attractant-binding site interactions, calculated from duration of the rotational response to addition of amino acids, agreed with those calculated for their removal and with previous values calculated from sensitivity capillary assays. The ratio of adaptation times for addition versus removal of attractant averaged 1.7, which differs greatly from the value of 50 for Escherichia coli.