Serine protein kinase activity associated with rotavirus phosphoprotein NSP5.

The rotavirus nonstructural protein NSP5, a product of the smallest genomic RNA segment, is a phosphoprotein containing O-linked N-acetylglucosamine. We investigated the phosphorylation of NSP5 in monkey MA104 cells infected with simian rotavirus SA11. Immunoprecipitated NSP5 was analyzed with respect to phosphorylation and protein kinase activity. After metabolic labeling of NSP5 with 32Pi, only serine residues were phosphorylated. Separation of tryptic peptides revealed four to six strongly labeled products and several weakly labeled products. Phosphorylation at multiple sites was also shown by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), where several isoforms of NSP5 with different pIs were identified. Analysis by PAGE of protein reacting with an NSP5-specific antiserum showed major forms at 26 to 28 and 35 kDa. Moreover, there were polypeptides migrating between 28 and 35 kDa. Treatment of the immunoprecipitated material with protein phosphatase 2A shifted the mobilities of the 28- to 35-kDa polypeptides to the 26-kDa position, suggesting that the slower electrophoretic mobility was caused by phosphorylation. Radioactive labeling showed that the 26-kDa form contained additional phosphate groups that were not removed by protein phosphatase 2A. The immunoprecipitated NSP5 possessed protein kinase activity. Incubation with [gamma-32P]ATP resulted in 32P labeling of 28- to 35-kDa NSP5. The distribution of 32P radioactivity between the components of the complex was similar to the phosphorylation in vivo. Assays of the protein kinase activity of a glutathione S-transferase-NSP5 fusion polypeptide expressed in Escherichia coli demonstrated autophosphorylation, suggesting that NSP5 was the active component in the material isolated from infected cells.     

Methanogenic Conversion of 3-S-Methylmercaptopropionate to 3-Mercaptopropionate

Anaerobic metabolism of dimethylsulfoniopropionate, an osmolyte of marine algae, in anoxic intertidal sediments involves either cleavage to dimethylsulfide or demethylation to 3-S-methylmercaptopropionate (MMPA) and subsequently to 3-mercaptopropionate. The methanogenic archaea Methanosarcina sp. strain MTP4 (DSM 6636), Methanosarcina acetivorans DSM 2834, and Methanosarcina (Methanolobus) siciliae DSM 3028 were found to use MMPA as a growth substrate and to convert it stoichiometrically to 3-mercaptopropionate. Approximately 0.75 mol of methane was formed per mol of MMPA degraded; methanethiol was not detected as an intermediate. Eight other methanogenic strains did not carry out this conversion. We also studied the conversion of MMPA in anoxic marine sediment slurries. Addition of MMPA (500 (mu)M) resulted in the production of methanethiol which was subsequently converted to methane (417 (mu)M). In the presence of the antibiotics ampicillin, vancomycin, and kanamycin (20 (mu)g/ml each), 275 (mu)M methane was formed from 380 (mu)M MMPA; no methanethiol was formed during these incubations. Only methanethiol was formed from MMPA when 2-bromoethanesulfonate (25 mM) was added to a sediment suspension. These results indicate that in natural environments MMPA could be directly or indirectly a substrate for methanogenic archaea.     

Site selective bis-intercalation of a homodimeric thiazole orange dye in DNA oligonucleotides.

We have used one and two dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy to characterize the binding of a homodimeric thiazole orange dye, 1,1'-(4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-4,8-diaza-undecamethylene)-bis-4- (3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-(benzo-1,3-thiazole)-2-methylidene)-quinolin ium tetraiodide (TOTO), to various double stranded DNA oligonucleotides. TOTO binds strongly to all the oligonucleotides used, but usually more than one complex is observed and exchange between different binding sites broadens the lines in the NMR spectra. Complete precipitation occurs when TOTO is bound to small oligonucleotides. Binding to larger oligonucleotides occurs by bis-intercalation. The 1:1 complex of TOTO with the oligonucleotide d(CCGACTGATGC):d (GCATCAGTCGG) gave only one complex that was shown to be a bis-intercalation in the CTGA:TCAG binding site. The binding to this site was also characterized by studying the TOTO complex with the d(CCGCTGAGC):d(GCTCAGCGG) oligonucleotide. NOE connectivities and molecular modelling were used to characterize the complex. The 1:1 complex of TOTO with the oligonucleotide d(CCGCTAGCG):d(CGCTAGCGG) containing a CTAG:CTAG binding site was similarly characterized by NMR. It was concluded that the binding of TOTO to larger oligonucleotides is site selective with CTAG:CTAG as the preferred binding site.     

Myocardial uptake kinetics of tocainide enantiomers in the isolated perfused rabbit heart

The extent of myocardial accumulation of tocainide, administered as single enantiomers and as well as racemate, was determined in the isolated, spontaneous beating rabbit heart. The heart was retrogradely perfused at a constant rate and fractions of the perfusate were collected during and after infusion. Kinetic parameters for myocardial accumulation and disposition of tocainide were indirectly determined from drug concentration/time course in the outflow perfusate. No stereoselectivity in myocardial accumulation was observed. A two compartment model with mean half-lives for distribution and elimination of 0.60 and 3.78 min, respectively, was fitted to the accumulation and disposition data. At steady-state, tocainide enantiomers were accumulated about three times in the myocardium relative to the perfusion liquid. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Evaluation of the use of cyclodextrins in chiral separation of basic drug substances by capillary electrophoresis

The influence of the choice of type and/or concentration of cyclodextrin, other additives, the temperature surrounding the capillary, and buffer pH on the separation of some chiral basic drug substances in capillary zone electrophoresis has been evaluated. It was found that pH of the buffer and type and concentration of cyclodextrin had a major influence on the separation. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Vegetation changes of a Danish mire 1957–1981

A Danish mire influenced by culture until ca. 100 years ago and since then with incipient growth of Betula pubescens , was analyzed in 1957 and 1981 with regard to height of the Betula trees and cover percentage of plant species in the field layer. In 1957, every m2 along a 110 m transect was examined; in 1981 only 56 m2 representatively selected from the transect were examined. Betula showed considerable changes with a net intake of 10 trees (23%) and a net loss of 23 trees (52%), i.e. a net loss of 13 trees (30%). The mean height of the trees has, however, increased by 80 cm and the sum of the height of the trees per m2 by 29 cm. An increased total cover was found for Em–petrum nigrum, Molinia coerulea , and Erica tetralix , and a decreased total cover for Calluna, Sphagnum magellanicum, S. nemoreum, S. rubellum, Hypnum cupressi–forme, Pleurozium schreberi , and Aulacomnium palustre. An almost unchanged total cover was found for Eriophorum vaginatum, E. angustifolium, Sphagnum recurvum, Andromeda polifolia, Drosera rotundifolia , and Oxycoccus palustris. On the basis of quantitative changes in the individual plots, a specific index of change is calculated, decreasing in the order Empetrum > Sphagnum magellanicum > S. recurvum = Molinia > Calluna > Hypnum cupressiforme > Pleurozium schreberi> Oxycoccus palustre> Sphagnum nemoreum = S. rubellum = Eriophorum vaginatum = E. angustifolium > Aulacomnium palustre > Erica> Drosera > Andromeda. Analyses from 1981 demonstrate that usually the light conditions and/or the water content and rarely the bulk density of the soil is correlated with the change in cover of the individual species. For some species it is also shown that the change is correlated with the strongly increased cover of Empetrum in particular. The changes are finally illustrated by showing the position of the species along ecological gradients in 1981.     

(Na + K)-ATPase activity of crude homogenates of rat skeletal muscle as estimated from their K-dependent 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphatase activity

A highly sensitive fluorimetric assay using 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphate as substrate was used in the determination of K⁺-dependent phosphatase activity in preparations of rat skeletal muscle. The gastrocnemius muscle was chosen because of mixed fibre composition. Crude, detergent treated homogenate was used so as to avoid loss of activity during purification. K⁺-dependent phosphatase activities in the range 0.19–0.37 μmol · (g wet weight)⁻¹ · min⁻¹ were obtained, the value decreasing with age and K⁺-deficiency. Complete inhibition of the K⁺-dependent phosphatase was obtained with 10⁻³ M ouabain. Using a KSCN-extracted muscle enzyme the intimate relation between K⁺-dependent phosphatase activity and (Na⁺ + K⁺)-activated ATP hydrolysis could be demonstrated. A molecular activity of 620 min⁻¹ was estimated from simultaneous determination of K⁺-dependent phosphatase activity and [³H]ouabain binding capacity using the partially purified enzyme preparation. The corresponding enzyme concentration in the crude homogenates was calculated and corresponded well with the number of [³H]ouabain binding sites measured in intact muscles or biopsies hereof.     

Asparagine-linked glycosylation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: genetic analysis of an early step.

Asparagine-linked glycosylation is a form of covalent modification that distinguishes proteins that are either membrane bound or are in cellular compartments topologically outside of the cell from those proteins that remain soluble in the cytoplasm. This type of glycosylation occurs stepwise, with core oligosaccharide added in the endoplasmic reticulum and subsequent modifications occurring in the golgi. We used tunicamycin, an inhibitor of one of the earliest steps in the synthesis of N-linked oligosaccharide, to select for mutants that are resistant to this antibiotic. Genetic, biochemical, and physiological experiments led to the following conclusions. The synthesis of N-linked oligosaccharide is an essential function in cells. In contrast to mammalian cells, yeast cells do not transport tunicamycin by a glucosamine transport function. We identified a gene, ALG7, that is probably the structural gene for UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-1-P transferase, the enzyme inhibited by tunicamycin. Dominant mutations in this gene result in increased activity of the transferase and loss of the ability of the cell to sporulate. In addition, we identified another gene, TUN1, in which recessive mutations result in resistance to tunicamycin. The ALG7 and TUN1 genes both map on chromosome VII.