Site-specific DNA damage induced by hydrazine in the presence of manganese and copper ions. The role of hydroxyl radical and hydrogen atom.

The mechanism of DNA damage by hydrazine in the presence of metal ions was investigated by DNA sequencing technique and ESR-spin trapping method. Hydrazine caused DNA damage in the presence of Mn(III), Mn(II), Cu(II), Co(II), and Fe(III). The order of inducing effect on hydrazine-dependent DNA damage (Mn(III) greater than Mn(II) approximately Cu(II) much greater than Co(II) approximately Fe(III)) was related to that of the accelerating effect on the O2 consumption rate of hydrazine autoxidation. DNA damage by hydrazine plus Mn(II) or Mn(III) was inhibited by hydroxyl radical scavengers and superoxide dismutase, but not by catalase. On the other hand, bathocuproine and catalase completely inhibited DNA damage by hydrazine plus Cu(II), whereas hydroxyl radical scavengers and superoxide dismutase did not. Hydrazine plus Mn(II) or Mn(III) caused cleavage at every nucleotide with a little weaker cleavage at adenine residues, whereas hydrazine plus Cu(II) induced piperidine-labile sites frequently at thymine residues, especially of the GTC sequence. ESR-spin trapping experiments showed that hydroxyl radical is generated during the Mn(III)-catalyzed autoxidation of hydrazine, whereas hydrogen atom adducts of spin trapping reagents are generated during Cu(II)-catalyzed autoxidation. The results suggest that hydrazine plus Mn(II) or Mn(III) generate hydroxyl free radical not via H2O2 and that this hydroxyl free radical causes DNA damage. A possibility that the hydrogen atom releasing compound participates in hydrazine plus Cu(II)-induced DNA damage is discussed.     

Alteration of N-terminal residues of mature human lysozyme affects its secretion in yeast and translocation into canine microsomal vesicles

Signal sequences play a central role in the initial membrane translocation of secretory proteins. Their functions depend on factors such as hydrophobicity and conformation of the signal sequences themselves. However, some characteristics of mature proteins, especially those of the N-terminal region, might also affect the function of the signal sequences. To examine this possibility, several mutants of human lysozyme modified in the N-terminal region of the mature protein were constructed, and their secretion in yeast as well as in vitro translocation into canine pancreatic microsomes were analyzed using an idealized signal sequence L8 (MR(L)8PLAALG). Our results show the following. (1) Change in the charge at the N-terminal residue of the mature protein does not affect secretion drastically. (2) Substitution of a proline residue at the N terminus prevents cleavage of the signal sequence, although translocation itself is not impaired. (3) Excessive positive charges in the N-terminal region delay translocation of the precursor protein across the membrane. (4) Polar and negatively charged residues introduced into the N-terminal region affect the secretion of the mature protein by preventing its correct folding.     

Inhibition of phosphoenzyme formation from phosphate and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase by vanadate binding to high- or low-affinity site on the enzyme.

In the preceding paper, we suggested that 1 mol Ca(2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) contains 0.5 ml of high-affinity vanadate binding sites as well as 0.5 ml of low-affinity vanadate binding sites [Yamasaki, K. & Yamamoto, T. (1991) J. Biochem. 110, 915-921]. In the present study, we examined the effects of vanadate binding to the high- and low-affinity sites upon phosphorylation of the enzyme by inorganic phosphate (Pi). When vanadate was added to the reaction medium in which the Ca(2+)-ATPase had been phosphorylated by Pi in the absence of Ca2+, the steady-state level of phosphoenzyme (E2P) decreased due to inhibition of its formation. The decrease of E2P after addition of vanadate exhibited biphasic kinetics consisting of an initial fast decay process followed by a slower first-order decay process. The size of the fast E2P decay, which was estimated by extrapolating the slow phase decay to time 0, varied depending on the vanadate concentration with a dissociation constant of 17 microM, and reached maximum at 50 microM vanadate. The maximum value of the fast E2P decay was almost equal to the initial E2P level. The initial fast decay of E2P was competitively prevented by Pi with a dissociation constant of 7.4 mM, which was very close to Km for the E2P formation under similar conditions. These observations suggested that vanadate inhibits E2P formation by competition with Pi at a phosphorylation site on the Ca(2+)-ATPase. The slow first-order decay of E2P corresponded well to the vanadate binding to the high-affinity site of the Ca(2+)-ATPase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The primary structure of the Cytisus scoparius seed lectin and a carbohydrate-binding peptide.

The complete amino acid sequence of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose-binding Cytisus scoparius seed lectin II (CSII) was determined using a protein sequencer. After digestion of CSII with endoproteinase Lys-C or Asp-N, the resulting peptides were purified by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and then subjected to sequence analysis. Comparison of the complete amino acid sequence of CSII with the sequences of other leguminous seed lectins revealed regions of extensive homology. The amino acid residues of concanavalin A (Con A) involved in the metal binding site are highly conserved among those of CSII. A carbohydrate-binding peptide of CSII was obtained from the endoproteinase Asp-N digest of CSII by affinity chromatography on a column of GalNAc-Gel. This peptide was retained on the GalNAc-Gel column and was presumed to have affinity for the column. The amino acid sequence of the retarded peptide was determined using a protein sequencer. The retarded peptide was found to correspond to the putative metal-binding region of Con A. These results strongly suggest that this peptide represents the carbohydrate-binding and metal ion-binding sites of CSII.     

Isolation and partial characterization of an 87-kilodalton beta-1,3-glucanase from Bacillus circulans IAM1165.

Bacillus circulans IAM1165 produces at least two extracellular beta-1,3-glucanases that lyse fungal cell walls. One of these extracellular enzymes was purified to homogeneity. The molecular mass was 87 kDa, and the pI was 4.3. The optimum temperature of the enzyme reaction was 70 degrees C when laminarin (a soluble beta-1,3-glucan) was used as the substrate. The pH range of the enzyme was broad (pH 4.5 to 9.0), and the optimum pH was 6.5. The enzyme is an endo beta-1,3-glucanase and has a random cleavage pattern.     

DNA ligase I mRNA and enzyme levels in human hematopoietic cells under dimethyl sulfoxide-induced growth-arrest and differentiation.

About half the activity level of DNA ligase I in cycling human lymphoblastoid cells (Raji and Akata) remained in the cells arrested at G1 by a 4-day treatment with 1.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and one-third the enzyme activity in actively growing promyelocytic leukemia cells HL-60 was detected in the terminally differentiated cells after DMSO-treatment. In contrast, DNA ligase I mRNA was negligible in the G1-arrested Raji and differentiated HL-60 cells. The steady-state mRNA level was increased 9 h after release from DMSO in the G1-arrested Raji cells and reached a maximum at 18 h. These results indicate that gene expression of human DNA ligase I, but not activity level of the enzyme, is closely correlated with activity of cell proliferation.     

Onset of the constrictive effect of indomethacin on the ductus arteriosus in fetal rats.

The time of onset of the constrictive effect of indomethacin on the ductus arteriosus (DA) in fetal rats was assessed by measurement of the caliber of the DA after maternal treatment with indomethacin on days 19-21 of gestation. The day following overnight mating was regarded as day 0 of gestation. Observation was performed by direct exposure of the DA by hand shaving of intact frozen fetuses. On days 20 and 21, the DA was significantly constricted 3 h after maternal treatment with 1 mg/kg of indomethacin. When the DA was examined at 19 1/2 and 19 2/3 days of gestation (3 h after indomethacin exposure), it was significantly constricted at 19 2/3 days but not at 19 1/2 days. Higher doses of indomethacin (10 and 100 mg/kg) induced a significant constriction of the DA at day 19 1/2, but not at the beginning of the same day (1.00 a.m.). These results suggest that the onset of the susceptibility of the DA to the constrictive effect of indomethacin occurs in the first half of day 19 of gestation.