Catalytic nonessentiality of an active-site cysteinyl residue of phosphoribulokinase

The activity of the Calvin cycle enzyme phosphoribulokinase is coupled to photosynthetic electron transport by reversible oxidation/reduction mediated by thioredoxin-f. Previous studies have shown that one of the regulatory sulfhydryl groups, that of Cys-16, is positioned at the nucleotide-binding domain of the active site. To determine if oxidative deactivation of the kinase reflects catalytic essentiality of Cys-16, the methylation of spinach phosphoribulokinase by methyl-4-nitrobenzenesulfonate has been examined. Methylation of the kinase results in a 50% loss of the initial activity relative to controls. The suppression of kcat is accompanied by a 6-fold increase in the Km for ATP, without change in the Km for ribulose 5-phosphate. The insensitivity of the modified enzyme, in contrast to the native, to iodoacetate and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) indicates that Cys-16 is a site of methylation. This supposition is verified independently by peptide mapping and Edman degradation subsequent to S-carboxymethylation with [14C]iodoacetate of the methylated kinase. Retention of significant enzymatic activity after complete modification of Cys-16 with the small, uncharged methyl moiety demonstrates that this active-site residue is not essential for catalysis.     

Antibacterial activity of rufloxacin in theStaphylococcus aureus rat granuloma pouch model

The protective effects of rufloxacin againstStaphylococcus aureus-induced infections were compared with those of ciprofloxacin in the granuloma pouch model in the rat. Two strains with different in vitro sensitivity to the drugs were studied. Rufloxacin concentrations persisted longer than ciprofloxacin in the exudate in the pouch cavity and were about eight times higher. Equal doses of rufloxacin and ciprofloxacin had similar antibacterial activities. However, rufloxacin inhibitedStaphylococcus aureus bacterial growth significantly longer than did ciprofloxacin.     

Permeable collagen-glycosaminoglycan cross-linked copolymers for the study of biological responses of coculturede Sertoli and spermatogenic cells

A novel collagen-glycosaminoglycan (C-GAG) substrate was developed to overcome the optical opacity of a HATF nitrocellulose substrate and to provide a more physiological permeable substrate for cocultured Sertoli and spermatogenic cells. Cocultures were prepared on optically transparent C-GAG discs attached to a polyester mesh to facilitate handling. Sertoli cells displayed a cuboidal-to-columnar shape; a large number of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes connected by intercellular bridges were associated with basolateral and apical surfaces of Sertoli cells up to 12 days after plating. Rat Sertoli-spermatogenic cell cocultures have been used for testing the effect of toxicants on rat spermatogenesis in vitro. In our initial studies, we tested the effects of the toxicant gossypol on spermatogenic cells cocultured with Sertoli cells on nonpermeable (plastic) and permeable substrates (HATF nitrocellulose) under both standard culture conditions and during perifusion after achieving a continuous electrical-resistant cell monolayer. A selective mitochondrial structural damage was observed in spermatogenic cells (spermatogonia and spermatocytes) but not in the coexisting Sertoli cells. This damage was time- (15–60 min) and dose-dependent (0.1–10µM) and developed more rapidly under perifusion conditions. Similar mitochondrial damage was reported in the intact animal but required higher concentrations (mg) and longer administration time (months) for detection. Studies are in progress to evaluate the effect of additional toxic chemical agents on functional properties of Sertoli and spermatogenic cells in cocultures prepared on various classes of C-GAG substrates.Abbreviations C-GAG, collagen type I-glycosaminoglycans - C-C6S, collagen type I-chondroitin-6-sulfate - C-H, collagen type I-heparin     

Purification and characterization of ribulose-5-phosphate kinase from spinach

An efficient purification procedure utilizing affinity chromatography is described for spinach ribulose-5-phosphate kinase, a light-regulated chloroplastic enzyme. Gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme reveal a dimeric structure of 44,000 Mr subunits. Chemical crosslinking with dimethyl suberimidate confirms the presence of two subunits per molecule of native kinase, which are shown to be identical by partial NH2-terminal sequencing. Based on sulfhydryl titrations and on amino acid analyses, each subunit contains four to five cysteinyl residues. The observed slow loss of activity during spontaneous oxidation in air-saturated buffer correlates with the intramolecular oxidation of two sulfhydryl groups, presumably those involved in thioredoxin-mediated regulation.     

A determinant of Mr 34,000 expressed by hamster epididymal epithelium binds specifically to spermatozoa in co-culture

A murine monoclonal antibody raised against hamster cauda epididymal spermatozoa was shown to recognize an Mr 34,000 component of epididymal epithelium. Antigen was localized by immunocytochemistry on the surface and in the apical cytoplasm of principal cells in the proximal corpus epididymidis but not in the caput or initial segment regions. Spermatozoa from the corpus epididymidis expressed antigen on their post-acrosomal plasma membrane and annulus. Epididymal principal cells from the proximal corpus region when cultured in vitro bound antibody on their apical surface for at least 5 days. Spermatozoa from the caput epididymidis co-cultured with epithelium expressed antigen after incubation for 8 and 24 h. These results suggest that a surface change to epididymal spermatozoa during maturation in vivo may also be elicited during in-vitro culture.     

Regulation of product synthesis in cell cultures of Catharanthus roseus (L) G. Don

Cell suspension cultures of the Madagascan Periwinkle Catharanthus roseus (L) G. Don were maintained on Gamborg's B5 medium and their growth monitored by measuring cellular fresh and dry weight, cell number and mitotic activity. Samples of cells of different ages and physiological states were subcultured onto an alkaloid production medium and their rates of growth and alkaloid accumulation measured over a period of 30–45 days. In two experiments the rate of biomass accumulation was directly related to the rate of cellular serpentine accumulation. Possible mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are discussed in relation to the properties of cells comprising the inocula.     

2-(4-Bromoacetamido)anilino-2-deoxypentitol 1,5-bisphosphate, a new affinity label for ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Rhodospirillum rubrum. Determination of reaction parameters and characterization of an active site peptide

A new affinity label for ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Rhodospirillum rubrum, 2-(4-bromoacetamido)anilino-2-deoxypentitol 1,5-bisphosphate, has been prepared, Reductive amination of ribulose-P2 with p-phenylenediamine in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride yielded an epimeric mixture which was resolved by chromatography on quaternary aminoethyl-Sephadex. Subsequent bromoacetylation of the isolated amino bisphosphates gave reagents A and B (ribo and arabino epimers of 2-(4-bromoacetamido) anilino-2-deoxypentitol 1,5-bisphosphate) which were competitive inhibitors of the carboxylase with Ki values of 705 and 104 microM, respectively. Reagent A exhibited no time-dependent effects on the carboxylase in either the deactivated or activated state. Incubation of the enzyme with reagent B in the presence of the essential activators CO2 and Mg2+, however, resulted in an irreversible, time-dependent loss of activity, with a Kinact of 125 microM and a minimal half-time of 7.3 min. Covalent incorporation of [14C]reagent B was directly proportional to the loss of activity, with total inactivation correlating with an incorporation of 1.1 mol of reagent/mol of subunit. Inclusion of the competitive inhibitor 2-carboxyribitol 1,5-bisphosphate protected against inactivation with a concomitant reduction in incorporation. Neither reagent affected the activity of spinach carboxylase. Fractionation of [14C]reagent B-modified enzyme on DEAE-cellulose, subsequent to carboxymethylation and tryptic digestion, revealed two major radioactive peaks of approximately equal area. Digestion of each peak with alkaline phosphatase and rechromatography on DEAE-cellulose resulted in pure peptides I and II. The peptides were identical except in the site of labeling: peptide I contained a modified cysteinyl residue while peptide II contained a modified histidyl residue. Automated Edman degradation established the sequence as (sequence in text) which is located near the NH2 terminus of the enzyme. The lack of reactivity with the spinach enzyme is explained by the deletion of the histidyl residue and the replacement of cysteine by tryptophan in the eukaryotic species. Although the nonconservation of the modified residues argues against a functional role other than maintenance of structural integrity, the extensive homology in this region among seven different species of carboxylase is compatible with the region comprising a portion of the active site.     

Production and specificity of monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies to Escherichia coli

Monoclonal antibodies were produced to whole cells of heat-treated Escherichia coli. Balb/c mice were immunized with a pool of five strains of heat-treated E. coli , and the resulting hybridomas were screened by indirect immunoassay. E. coli strains other than those used for immunization were used for screening to detect hybridomas producing antibody that reacted with a large number of E. coli strains. Of 864 hybridomas, 32 reacted strongly with either two or all three of the strains used for screening; 15 were successfully cloned. Antibody from hybridoma 6H2 reacted with 35 of 68 (51%) E. coli ; of 13 non- E. coli tested, only Enterobacter agglomerans was weakly positive. Hybridoma 9B12 antibody reacted with all six E. coli tested. Hybridoma 9B12, however, stopped producing antibody. Five hybridomas produced antibody which reacted with a majority of the bacteria tested whereas antibodies from two other hybridomas reacted with several E. coli and non- E. coli. Polyclonal antibodies produced to two strains of E. coli varied in the numbers of E. coli with which they reacted; both antisera cross-reacted with several non- E. coli.     

Different structure of polytene chromosomes ofPhaseolus coccineus suspensors during early embryogenesis

Summary The pattern of DNA and RNA puffs in pair VII of polytene chromosomes has been investigated in the suspensor ofPhaseolus coccineus during early embryo development. The pattern of³H-TdR and³H-U incorporation has been also detected. Collected data indicate that: 1. both heterochromatic regions, p₁₁ and q_(111+112), of chromosome pair VII, organize large DNA puffs; 2. DNA puffs of both regions are specific of different embryo differentiation steps; 3. a seasonal influence on the DNA puffing seems also to be present, as demonstrated by the comparison of the results collected in two different crops; 4. the incorporation experiment by³H-TdR evidences that not all DNA puffs show clustered labeling; 5. the RNA puffing of the two regions seems also to be specific of determined embryo stages.