Affinity labeling of the myosin ATPase with ribose-modified fluorescent nucleotides and vanadate

Ribose-modified fluorescent nucleotide analogs, 3'-O-anthraniloyl and 3'-O-(N-methylanthraniloyl) derivatives of AT(D)P, dAT(D)P, CT(D)P, UT(D)P, IT(D)P, and GT(D)P, were synthesized for use as substrates and affinity labels for the myosin ATPase [Hiratsuka, T. (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 742, 496-508]. None of the fluorescent nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) analogs was significantly different from the corresponding natural NTP in its ability to support superprecipitation of actomyosin. When fluorescent and natural NTPs were used as substrates for the myosin subfragment-1(S-1) ATPase in the presence of 1mM vanadate ion (V1), a slight initial inhibition of the S-1 NTPase was followed by progressive inhibition to more than 60% over a period of 1 h. The apparent second-order rate constants were 0.14-0.44M-1 . s-1, suggesting the formation of the inactive fluorescent NDP-labeled S-1. After incubation of S-1 with the nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) analog in the presence of Vi, the resultant fluorescent NDP-labeled S-1 was isolated free of unbound Vi and the analog by gel filtration. The isolated complexes had stoichiometries of 0.6-1.1 NDP analog per S-1 active site. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed conveniently that the NDP analog is associated with S-1 as indicated by two intense fluorescent bands corresponding to S-1 isozymes. On dissociating gels, the analog was released from S-1, suggesting that the labeled S-1 is held together by strong secondary forces rather than covalent bonds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Selective fluorescent labeling of the 50-, 26-, and 20-kilodalton heavy chain segments of myosin ATPase

7-Diethylamino-3-(4'-isothiocyanatophenyl)-4-methylcoumarin (CPI), rhodamine B isothiocyanate (RITC), and 4-bromomethyl-6,7-dimethoxycoumarin (BDMC), fluorescent reagents that can react covalently with amino or sulfhydryl groups, have been used to label myosin subfragment-1 (S-1) ATPase. The conditions under which CPI, RITC, and BDMC selectively label the 50-, 26-, and 20-kDa segments of the S-1 heavy chain, respectively, are described. CPI and RITC labeling little affects the ATPase activities of S-1 in the presence and absence of actin. BDMC labeling activates the Ca2+- and Mg2+-ATPases of S-1, and abolishes the K+-EDTA-ATPase. The three S-1 derivatives fluoresce strongly even under acidic conditions, suggesting the wide applicability of these fluorescent reagents as selective labels for the three segments of the S-1 heavy chain.     

Polymerase chain reaction and an outer membrane protein gene probe for the detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis

Abstract A sensitivity assay for Porphyromonas gingivalis based upon the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed. A 426-bp sequence, including a Dra I- Hinc II DNA fragment (278 bp) encoding the 40-kDa outer membrane protein of the P. gingivalis gene was amplified. PCR products were obtained from chromosomal DNAs of the P. gingivalis strains tested but not from those of other oral microorganisms. The lower limit of template DNA detection was 10 pg with 30 cycles and 100 fg with 40 cycles of PCR by agarose gel electrophoresis. The PCR products were hybridized with Dra I- Hinc II DNA fragment internal to the PCR primers regions used. The lower limit of hybridization detection was 10 pg and 10 fg of template DNA with 30 and 40 cycles of PCR, respectively. These results demonstrated the simplicity, rapidity and specificity of the procedure, as well as the use of the Dra I- Hinc II DNA fragment in the identification of P. gingivalis .     

The occurrence of serotonin-containing cells in the esophageal epithelium of the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana: a fluorescence histochemical and immunohistochemical study

Fluorescence histochemical examination of biogenic amines of the frog esophageal mucosa revealed that a serotonin-like monoamine exhibiting an yellow fluorescence was present in a certain type of cells. The new type of cells was specifically stained by the immunohistochemical method using anti-serotonin antiserum. From these observations, it is suggested that the new cell type in the esophageal mucosa probably contains 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin). The serotonin-containing cells were argentaffin, but negative for Grimelius' silver stain.     

Distinct structures of ATP and GTP complexes in the myosin ATPase

The active site of the myosin subfragment-1 ATPase was affinity-labeled with ribose-modified fluorescent analogs of ADP, dADP, CDP, UDP, IDP, and GDP in combination with vanadate, forming a stable myosin-nucleoside diphosphate-vanadate complex that is analogous to the normal myosin-ADP-Pi intermediate [Hiratsuka, T. (1984) J. Biochem. 96, 147-154]. Labeled enzyme was isolated free of unbound analog and vanadate, and fluorescent properties of the fluorophore at the active site were examined. Fluorescence emission and acrylamide quenching studies revealed that the hydrophobicity of environment around the fluorophore and the degree of its burial in the protein vary with the base structure of NDP. It was found that the fluorophore of ADP analog is most buried into the protein, while that of the GDP analog is least buried. The results suggest that the deep burial of ATP into the myosin active site is essential for muscle contraction.