Conformationally altered aortic myosin light chains

Aorta smooth myosin contains two types of light chain, LC20 and LC17, which fold together with the N-terminal region of each heavy chain to form the globular head region of myosin. We demonstrate an altered conformation of LC20 after its separation from heavy chain by high concentrations of urea, on the basis of the following evidende: 1) A polyclonal antibody against LC20 was not able to recognize this conformationally altered form; 2) Myosin reconstituted from heavy chains and urea-dissociated light chains exhibited extremely low ATPase activity. Circular dichroism unfolding profiles showed that light chains dissociated from heavy chains by SDS appeared to be more stable than those generated by urea dissociation.     

Properties of the oscillatory cAMP binding component of Dictyostelium discoideum cells and isolated plasma membranes.

The cAMP receptor on the surface of aggregation competent Dictyostelium discoideum cells specifically binds [3H]cAMP in an oscillatory manner with a periodicity of 2 min. The oscillatory cAMP-binding component is developmentallly regulated and has the nucleotide specificity expected for recognition of chemotactic signals. The concentration dependence of the peak amplitudes of cAMP binding exhibit an apparent threshold at 10(-8) M cAMP. The threshold concentration for cAMP binding that we measure is consistent with the concentration dependence of signal relay (cAMP secretion) and the chemotactic response. The kinetic data of binding and dissociation are very rapid, consistent with the time course of oscillations in receptor capacity (affinity). Specific binding oscillations are destroyed by heat or chymotrypsin but are insensitive to trypsin or glycosidase. A plasma membrane localization of receptor is supported by enrichment of cAMP binding in a plasma membrane preparation from differentiated cells. Receptor oscillations with a 2-min period are preserved in the membrane preparations, and the peak amplitudes are increased about 10-fold consistent with the enrichment of other plasma membrane markers. The alternating change in the receptor's binding capacity for cAMP may be the basis of the relay refractory period as well as the primary oscillator involved in the generation of postreceptor events such as stimulation of adenylate cyclase, cAMP secretion, and cellular movement, all of which have been previously shown to oscillate.     

Mapping of the adenosine 5'-triphosphate binding site of type II calmodulin-dependent protein kinase

The specificity of the ATP-binding site of the type II calmodulin-dependent protein kinase was probed with 25 analogues of ATP modified at various positions of the molecule. The analogues were compared by their ability to compete with ATP in the protein kinase reaction. The result of this comparison indicates that the enzyme is most sensitive to modifications at, or replacement of, the purine moiety. Changes at the triphosphate chain are much better tolerated, although the enzyme exhibited a selective sensitivity to changes in the conformation of this group. The smallest contribution to the specificity of ATP binding appears to be made by the ribose ring. The Ki values obtained for a subset of these analogues were compared to those previously reported for phosphorylase b kinase and the cyclic nucleotide dependent protein kinases [Flockhart, D. A., Freist, W., Hoppe, J., Lincoln, T. M., & Corbin, J. D. (1984) Eur. J. Biochem. 140, 289-295]. A striking similarity in the responses of these protein kinases to modifications of the ATP molecule suggests that the type II calmodulin-dependent protein kinase is related to these enzymes. Support for this conclusion was provided, recently, through comparisons of the deduced primary structures of the alpha and beta subunits of the type II calmodulin-dependent protein kinase with the protein sequences of the catalytic subunits of phosphorylase b kinase and cAMP-dependent protein kinase [Hanley, R. M., Means, A. R., Ono, T., Kemp, B. E., Burgin, K. E., Waxham, N., & Kelly, P. T. (1987) Science (Washington, D.C.) 237, 293-297; Bennett, M. K., & Kennedy, M. B. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 1794-1798], which indicated areas of extensive homology.     

Autophosphorylation of the type II calmodulin-dependent protein kinase is essential for formation of a proteolytic fragment with catalytic activity. Implications for long-term synaptic potentiation

Autophosphorylation plays an essential role in proteolytic activation of the type II calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase II). Limited proteolysis of CaM kinase II by trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, and Ca2+-stimulated neutral protease (calpain) yielded a catalytically active kinase fragment only when the holoenzyme was autophosphorylated prior to proteolysis. Slightly larger, inactive fragments were obtained from nonphosphorylated CaM kinase II, regardless of whether Ca2+/calmodulin or Mg2+/ATP were present or absent. The active fragment exhibited Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase activity with kinetic parameters identical with those of the activated holoenzyme. The key autophosphorylation site of CaM kinase II was absent from the active fragment which indicates that proteolysis can effectively uncouple the activation state and Ca2+/calmodulin independence of the kinase from the action of phosphoprotein phosphatases. Because autophosphorylation exerts such a tight control over this irreversible process, proteolytic activation of CaM kinase II by intracellular proteases offers an attractive mechanism for prolonging the effects of Ca2+ at the synapse.     

The semidian rhythm in flowering response of Pharbitis nil in relation to dark period time measurement and to a circadian rhythm

When seedlings of Pharbitis nil Choisy, cv. Violet, are exposed to a single inductive dark period at 27°C, brief interruptions with red light (R) can be promotive after 2–3 h of darkness but increasingly inhibitory to flowering up to the 8–9th h of darkness. This rhythmic response to R interruptions can be advanced in phase by > 1 h when the preceding light period is interrupted with far-red (FR) 2 h before darkness (FR -2 h) or with FR – 15 h, whereas FR –8 h or FR–22 h retard the rhythm. These shifts in the R interruption rhythm are paralleled by equal shifts in the length of the dark period required for flowering. Brief FR interruptions of darkness displayed a similar rhythm which was also advanced by FR –2 h and retarded by FR –8 h. We conclude therefore that the semidian rhythm in the light, which we have previously described, continues through at least the first 12 h of darkness, is manifested in the R interruption rhythm, and determines the critical night length. A circadian rhythm with a marked effect on flowering was also identified, but several lines of evidence suggest that the circadian and semidian rhythms have independent additive effects on flowering and do not appear to show phase interaction.     

Methyl bromide as a microbicidal fumigant for tree nuts.

Methyl bromide (MeBr) has broad microbicidal activity, but its use as a disinfectant for food is limited by the resulting bromide residues. Increasing the MeBr concentration, exposure temperature, or exposure period of a treatment tended to increase both the microbicidal efficacy of MeBr and the bromide residues. Its sporicidal activity was less at high than at low relative humidity within the range of 20 to 99%. Both the efficacy and the resulting residues of a MeBr treatment varied inversely with the load of product in a fumigation chamber due to sorption of the fumigant. Fumigation tests with almond kernels inoculated with Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhimurium indicated that MeBr can be used to disinfect whole nut kernels without resulting in excessive bromide residues, although the MeBr level necessary is higher than that normally used for insect control.     

Characterization of p29, an estrogen-receptor associated tumor marker

Monoclonal antibody D5, raised against cytosolic human estrogen receptor (ER) reacts with p29, a receptor-associated cytoplasmic serine phosphoprotein which does not bind steroid, While p29 selectively binds GTP and to a lesser extent ATP, in vitro GTP binding does not result in p29 phosphorylation. Under ER activating conditions, p29 associates with cytosolic ER; GTP, ATP and sodium molybdate block formation of immunoprecipitable p29-ER complexes. Nucleotide binding data suggest a role for p29 in the estrogen response machinery, possibly at the level of phosphate or nucleotide metabolism.     

A variable minisatellite sequence in the chloroplast genome of Sorbus L. (Rosaceae: Maloideae).

The chloroplast genome is now known to be more variable than was once thought. Reports of RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) and sequence variation, as well as variation in chloroplast microsatellites, are common. Here, data are presented on the variability of a minisatellite sequence in the chloroplast genome of Sorbus species. RFLP analysis of a PCR product comprising the region between the trnM and rbcL genes of nine Sorbus species identified seven size variants. Sequencing revealed the observed size polymorphism to be due to differences in the number of copies of an imperfect 9-bp motif. A more intensive survey of the variability of the minisatellite was undertaken in populations of Sorbus aucuparia. The potential uses of such regions in chloroplast DNA are discussed and a possible mechanism for the evolution of the minisatellite is presented.     

DNA helicase-mediated packaging of adeno-associated virus type 2 genomes into preformed capsids.

Helicases not only catalyse the disruption of hydrogen bonding between complementary regions of nucleic acids, but also move along nucleic acid strands in a polar fashion. Here we show that the Rep52 and Rep40 proteins of adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) are required to translocate capsid-associated, single-stranded DNA genomes into preformed empty AAV-2 capsids, and that the DNA helicase function of Rep52/40 is essential for this process. Furthermore, DNase protection experiments suggest that insertion of AAV-2 genomes proceeds from the 3' end, which correlates with the 3'-->5' processivity demonstrated for the Rep52/40 helicase. A model is proposed in which capsid-immobilized helicase complexes act as molecular motors to 'pump' single-stranded DNA across the capsid boundary.