Nucleotide-free kinesin hydrolyzes ATP with burst kinetics

Bovine brain kinesin binds ADP tightly and contains a stoichiometric amount of ADP at its active site when isolated in the presence of free Mg2+ (Hackney, D. D. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 6314-6318). EDTA in excess of Mg2+ weakens ADP binding and nucleotide-free kinesin can be prepared by gel filtration with excess EDTA. On addition of ATP, this nucleotide-free enzyme catalyzes the rapid hydrolysis of a stoichiometric amount of ATP in a burst phase followed by much slower continued ATP hydrolysis limited by the release of ADP from the active site. This burst reaction is evident both by formation of [32P]Pi from [gamma-32P]ATP and by formation of [alpha-32P]ADP from [alpha-32P]ATP. At 1.1 nM kinesin active sites, the observed rate of the burst phase increases linearly with ATP over the 1-20 nM range yielding a bimolecular rate of net ATP binding and hydrolysis of 2.5 microM-1 s-1. The intercept at zero ATP is 0.008 s-1 which equals the ADP release rate at 0.008-0.009 s-1. This predicts a Km for ATP of approximately 3.5 nM and measurements of the dependence on ATP concentration of the steady state rate and amount of bound ADP are consistent with a Km of this magnitude.     

Molecular properties of purified (sodium + potassium)-activated adenosine triphosphatases and their subunits from the rectal gland of Squalus acanthias and the electric organ of Electrophorus electricus.

The chemical properties of two highly purified preparations of (sodium + potassium)-activated adenosine triphosphatase (NaK ATPase) and their subunits have been compared. One preparation is derived from the rectal gland of the spiny dogfish shark, Squalus acanthias and the other preparation is derived from the electric organ of the electric eel, Electrophorus electricus. Ouabain binding and phosphorylation from [gamma-32-P]ATP for both enzymes ranged from 4000 to 4300 pmol per mg of protein. This gives a stoichiometry for ouabain binding and phosphorylation of 1:1 for both enzymes. The molar ratios of catalytic subunit to glycoprotein was 2:1 for both enzymes, suggesting a minimum molecular weight of 250, 000, which agrees with the molecular weight obtained by radiation inactivation. Assuming that only one of the two catalytic subunits is phosphorylated and binds ouabain per (sodium + potassium)-activated adenosine triphosphatase molecule the data on phosphorylation and ouabain binding also give a molecular weight of 250, 000. The data on phosphorylatiion, ouabain binding, subunit composition, and molecular weight based on radiaion inactivation are thus all internally consistent. A technique has been developed for isolation of pure catalytic subunit and glycoprotein in good yields by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A variety of chemical studies have been carried out with the purified subunits. The amino acid composition of the catalytic subunit was different from that of the glycoprotein, but the amino acid composition of each of the two subunits was essentially the same for both species. However, the NH2-terminal amino acid for the catalytic subunit was alanine for the rectal gland enzyme and serine for the electric organ enzyme, suggesting some differencesin amino acid sequences for the two species. The NH2-terminal amino acid for the glycoprotein was alanine for the two species. The glycoproteins from both species contained the same carbohydrates but in quite differing amounts. The carbohydrates were glucosamine, sialic acid, fucose, galactose, mannose, and glucose. The release of all the sialic acid from the electric organ enzyme and the release of 40% of the sialic acid from the rectal gland enzyme did not affect (sodium + potassium)-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity. Both enzymes contained the following phospholipids, which accounted for 98 to 100% of the total phospholipid phosphorus: sphingomyelin, lecithin, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol. With the exception of phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol. With the exception of phosphatidylserine, the amount of any phospholipid per mg of enzyme as well as the total phospholipid content were quite different for the two enzymes.     

A low-molecular-weight protein from rat liver that resembles ligandin in its binding properties.

A protein of S20,W 1.6S and mol.wt. 14000, which binds covalently a metabolite of the aminoazodye carcinogen NN-dimethyl-4-amino-3'-methylazobenzene, was isolated from rat liver cytosol from both carcinogen-treated and normal rats. The protein binds non-covalently palmitoyl-CoA, fatty acids, bilirubin, sex steroids and their sulphates, bile acids and salts, bromosulphophthalein, diethylstilboestrol and 20-methylcholanthrene with a wide range of affinities. The protein is isolated as three components with isoelectric points of 5.0, 5.9 and 7.6 by a method involving isoelectric focusing. All three components have closely similar amino acid analyses, tryptic-peptide 'maps' and u.v. spectra. Each single component redistributes into all three on further electrophoresis. However, the three forms differ in their binding characteristics, the form of pI 7.6 having much the highest affinity for compounds bound non-covalently. The protein was identified immunologically in rat liver, small intestine, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, myocardium and testis. The protein was compared with other hepatic binding-protein preparations of similar molecular weight.     

Analysis of positional isotope exchange in ATP by cleavage of the beta P-O gamma P bond. Demonstration of negligible positional isotope exchange by myosin

A method for analysis of positional isotope exchange (PIX) during ATP in equilibrium with HOH oxygen exchange is presented that uses a two-step degradation of ATP resulting in cleavage of the beta P-O gamma P bond. This cleavage yields Pi derived from the gamma-phosphoryl of ATP that contains all four of the gamma oxygens. Both PIX between the beta,gamma-bridge and beta-nonbridge positions and washout of the gamma-nonbridge oxygens can be simultaneously followed by using ATP labeled with 17O at the beta-nonbridge positions and 18O at the beta,gamma-bridge and gamma-nonbridge positions. Application of this method to ATP in equilibrium with HOH exchange during single turnovers of myosin indicates that the bulk of the ATP undergoes rapid washout of gamma-nonbridge oxygens in the virtual absence of PIX. At 25 degrees C with subfragment 1 the scrambling rate is at the limit of detectability of approximately 0.001 s-1, which is 50-fold slower than the steady-state rate. This corresponds to a probability of scrambling for the beta-oxygens of bound ADP of 1 in 10,000 for each cycle of reversible hydrolysis of bound ATP. A fraction of the ATP, however, does not undergo rapid washout. With myosin and stoichiometric ATP at 0 degrees C, this fraction corresponds to 10% of the ATP remaining at 36 s, or 2% of the initial ATP, and an equivalent level of ATP is found that does not bind irreversibly to myosin in a cold chase experiment. A significant level of apparent PIX is observed with subfragment 1 in the fraction that resists washout, and this apparent PIX is shown to be due to contaminant adenylate kinase activity. This apparent PIX due to adenylate kinase provides a possible explanation for the PIX observed by Geeves et al. [Geeves, M. A., Webb, M. R., Midelfort, C. F., & Trentham, D. R. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 4748-4754] with subfragment 1.     

Comparison of the in vitro mutagenicity and metabolism of dimethylnitrosamine and benzo[a]pyrene in tissues from inbred mice treated with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene or polychlorinated biphenyls.

Homogenates of liver, lung, kidney, stomach, small intestine and colon from 8 strains of mice were compared for their ability to metabolize benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) to mutagens. Females of strains CF1, AKR/J, AU/SsJ, DBA/2J, SWR/J, A/J, C3H/HeJ, and C57BL/6J were either untreated or received phenobarbital (PB), 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) or polychlorinated biphenyls (AR) to induce drug-metabolizing enzymes. The effects of these drugs on organ weight and on the amounts of DNA, S-10 protein, and microsomal protein per unit weight of tissue are reported. Salmonella typhimurium TA92 and TA98 were used as indicators of the formation of mutagens. For each organ there was an optimal balance between amount of tissue homogenate and concentration of test compound for maximal yield of revertants. A sensitive radiometric assay of DMN demethylase (DMND) is described which permits measurement of the enzyme in liver, lung and kidney. DMN at 1 mM is used as substrate. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) was measured in all tissue using BP as substrate. AR and MC are very good inducers of AHH activity in livers of mice classified as aromatic hydrocarbon responsive, but not in those classified as hydrocarbon nonresponsive. Responsiveness is strain-specific and genetically regulated. Metabolism of BP to mutagens by liver homogenates was correlated with extent of AHH induction. This dimorphism of response of AHH to inducers was present, but less pronounced, in non-hepatic tissues. Basal activities of AHH and DMND were correlated in livers and lungs from untreated mice. DMND activities were increased less than 2-fold by PB, MC or AR treatments. Metabolism of DMN to mutagens was not closely correlated with DMND activities. Strain of mouse, type of tissue and test substance are important variables in assessing the potential effect of microsomal enzyme-inducing agents on the metabolism of mutagenic substances.     

Testosterone and endurance exercise: development of the "exercise-hypogonadal male condition"

During the last 30 years a large number of research studies have been conducted examining reproductive endocrine dysfunction in exercising women. The number of similar studies examining men is still relatively small. Nevertheless, an increasing amount of research studies in men indicate endurance exercise training has significant effects upon the major male reproductive hormone, testosterone, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis that regulates reproductive hormones. This review article addresses one reproductive endocrine dysfunction found in exercising men, what has been deemed the "exercise-hypogonadal male condition". Specifically, men with this condition exhibit basal (resting-state) free and total testosterone levels that are significantly and persistently reduced. The exact physiological mechanism inducing the reduction of testosterone is currently unclear, but is postulated to be a dysfunction (or perhaps a readjustment) within the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular regulatory axis. The time course for the development of the "exercise-hypogonadal condition" or the threshold of exercise training necessary to induce the condition remains unresolved. The potential exists for these reduced testosterone levels within the exercise-hypogonadal male to disrupt and be detrimental to some anabolic or androgenic testosterone-dependent physiological processes. Unfortunately, extremely few research studies have addressed whether such processes are affected, and thus findings are inconclusive. Conversely, the alterations in testosterone levels brought about by endurance exercise training have the potential for cardiovascular protective effects and thus could be beneficial to the health of these men. Current evidence suggests this condition is limited to men who have been persistently involved in chronic endurance exercise training for extended periods of time (i.e., years). Many questions, however, regarding the male reproductive endocrine adaptive process to exercise and exercise training remain unanswered, necessitating the need for further research on this topic.     

Effects of Fixation and Dehydration Procedures on Marine Nematodes

Different combinations of fixation and dehydration procedures for the preparation of permanent mounts of marine nematodes of the subfamily Oncholaiminae were tested and compared. Qualitatively, the best specimens resulted from Seinhorst''s killing method and fixation in FAA; the dehydration procedure was of less significance. Quantitatively, no significant modification of measurements resulted from any of the methods used. Sources of error in measurements are discussed.