The isolation of a fetal rat liver glutathione S-transferase isoenzyme with high glutathione peroxidase activity

A previously uncharacterized glutathione S-transferase isoenzyme which is absent from normal adult rat livers has been isolated from fetal rat livers. The enzyme was purified using a combination of affinity chromatography, CM-cellulose column chromatography and chromatofocusing. It is composed of two non-identical subunits, namely, subunit Yc (Mr 28,000) and a subunit (Mr 25,500) recently reported by us to be uniquely present in fetal rat livers and which we now refer to as subunit 'Yfetus'. The enzyme which we term glutathione S-transferase YcYfetus has an isoelectric point of approx. 8.65 and has glutathione S-transferase activity towards a number of substrates. The most significant property of the fetal isozyme is its high glutathione peroxidase activity towards the model substrate cumene hydroperoxide. We suggest that this isozyme serves a specific function in protecting fetuses against the possible teratogenic effects of organic peroxides.     

Kinetic isotope effect studies on aspartate aminotransferase: evidence for a concerted 1,3 prototropic shift mechanism for the cytoplasmic isozyme and L-aspartate and dichotomy in mechanism

The C alpha primary hydrogen kinetic isotope effects (C alpha-KIEs) for the reaction of the cytoplasmic isozyme of aspartate aminotransferase (cAATase) with [alpha-2H]-L-aspartate are small and only slightly affected by deuterium oxide solvent (DV = 1.43 +/- 0.03 and DV/KAsp = 1.36 +/- 0.04 in H2O; DV = 1.44 +/- 0.01 and DV/KAsp = 1.61 +/- 0.06 in D2O). The D2O solvent KIEs (SKIEs) are somewhat larger and are essentially independent of deuterium at C alpha (D2OV = 2.21 +/- 0.07 and D2OV/KAsp = 1.70 +/- 0.03 with [alpha-1H]-L-aspartate; D2OV = 2.34 +/- 0.12 and D2OV/KAsp = 1.82 +/- 0.06 with [alpha-2H]-L- aspartate). The C alpha-KIEs on V and on V/KAsp are independent of pH from pH 5.0 to pH 10.0. These results support a rate-determining concerted 1,3 prototropic shift mechanism by the multiple KIE criteria [Hermes, J. D., Roeske, C. A., O'Leary, M. H., & Cleland, W. W. (1982) Biochemistry 21, 5106]. The large C alpha-KIEs for the reaction of mitochondrial AATase (mAATase) with L-glutamate (DV = 1.88 +/- 0.13 and DV/KGlu = 3.80 +/- 0.43 in H2O; DV = 1.57 +/- 0.05 and DV/KGlu = 4.21 +/- 0.19 in D2O) coupled with the relatively small SKIEs (D2OV = 1.58 +/- 0.04 and D2OV/KGlu = 1.25 +/- 0.05 with [alpha-1H]-L-glutamate; D2OV = 1.46 +/- 0.06 and D2OV/KGlu = 1.16 +/- 0.05 with [alpha-2H]-L-glutamate) are most consistent with a two-step mechanism for the 1,3 prototropic shift for this isozyme-substrate pair.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Aspartate aminotransferase catalyzed oxygen exchange with solvent from oxygen-18-enriched alpha-ketoglutarate: evidence for slow exchange of enzyme-bound water

Partitioning of the ketimine (or ketimine + quinonoid) intermediate(s) in the mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase reactions was investigated by following the rates of loss of 18O from carbonyl-18O-enriched alpha-ketoglutarate together with the rate of L-glutamate formation. The ratio of these rate constants was found to equal 1 at 10 degrees C, implying that the above intermediate(s) face(s) equal barriers with respect to the forward and reverse reactions. This partition ratio of 1 together with that measured from the alpha-amino acid side of the reaction [Julin, D.A., Wiesinger, H., Toney, M. D., & Kirsch, J.F. (1989) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)] suggests that the rate constant for exchange of alpha-ketoglutarate-derived H2(18)O from the ketimine (or ketimine + quinonoid) form(s) of the enzyme with solvent is comparable with that for kcat.     

Correlation of spinule dynamics and plasticity of the horizontal cell spectral response in cyprinid fish retina: quantitative analysis

Summary A negative feedback interaction between luminosity type horizonatal cells (HCs) and green-sensitive cones generates the long-wavelength-sensitive depolarizing response in biphasic chromaticity type HCs. This interaction is suppressed in the dark and is potentiated by light adaptation of the retina. HCs are morphologically plastic; during light adaptation, their dendritic terminals within cone pedicles extend, giving rise to spinules. This paper examines whether there is a quantitative correlation between the time course of light-dependent formation of the spinules and enhancement of the feedback interaction. The strength of the feedback interaction in isolated retinac of the roach was determined as the neutral wavelength at which reversal of spectral response polarity occurred in biphasic HCs. A good correlation was found between the neutral wavelength and the spinule/ribbon ratios of retinae. Biphasic HCs were intracellularly stained with horseradish peroxidase and the correlative ultrastructure of the contacted pedicles was examined. Neutral wavelength was found to be correlated with the spinule number, weighted according to the number of synaptic contacts mediating feed-forward transmission. The latter was estimated from the total number of labelled C_b/H2 HC processes (central and lateral) at synaptic triads. A model in which spinules mediate the negative feedback interaction of HCs in the retina of cyprinid fish is presented.     

Acetylcholinesterase activity in antennal receptor neurons of the sphinx moth Manduca sexta

Summary We have used a cytochemical technique to investigate the distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the antenna of the sphinx moth Manduca sexta. High levels of echothiophate-insensitive (presumably intracellular) AChE activity were found in six different types of antennal receptors localized in specific regions of the three antennal segments of the adult moth. Mechanosensory organs in the scape and pedicel, the Böhm bristles and Johnston's organ, are innervated by AChE-positive neurons. In each annulus of the antennal flagellum, AChE-positive neurons are associated with six sensilla chaetica and a peg organ, probably a sensillum styloconicum. At least 112 receptor neurons (8–10 per annulus) innervating the intersegmental membranes between the 14 distalmost annuli also exhibit high levels of echothiophate-resistant AChE. In addition, each annulus has more than 30 AChE-positive somata in the epidermis of the scale-covered (back) side of the flagellum, and 4 AChE-positive somata reside within the first annulus of the flagellum. Since none of the olfactory receptor neurons show a high level of echothiophateresistant AChE activity, and all known mechanoreceptors are AChE-positive, apparently intracellular AChE activity in the antenna correlates well with mechanosensory functions and is consistent with the idea that these cells employ acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter.     

Karyological stability and microevolution of a cell suspension culture ofBrachycome dichromosomatica (Asteraceae)

A long-term suspension culture ofBrachycome dichromosomatica (2n = 4) was induced from a cotyledon-derived callus. Subcultures were obtained every week up to three years. The bulk of the cultures displayed a stable diploid karyotype, while one cell line evolved with 2n = 5 chromosomes in the 86th reinoculation. No further chromosomal change occurred also in that cell line. It is assumed that the fifth chromosome is the expression of a trisomy 2.The chromatin ultrastructure was of the species-specific chromomeric type in the wild-type line, while the trisomic line displayed more condensed chromatin, what probably indicates a rather inactive state of the extra-chromosome.Brachycome dichromosomatica is suggested to represent an ideal species to follow-up karyotype stability and/or variation in cell culture.As a former student W. N. dedicates this paper in gratitude and admiration to Prof. DrElisabeth Tschermak-Woess on the occasion of her 70th birthday. Prof.Woess with her scientific work has stimulated in an unique manner the study of nuclear structures in plants, of endopolyploidy and polytene chromosomes, and has thus established the basis for the rapidly increasing research in these fields.     

Nerve cell and nematocyte production in Hydra is deregulated by lithium ions

Summary LiCl, a well-known vegetalising agent, interferes with the commitment of stem cells to nerve cells and nematocytes in Hydra attenuata. Treatment with 20 mM LiCl inhibits commitment to nerve cells, treatment with 1 mM LiCl inhibits commitment to nematocytes. However, LiCl does not prevent stem cells committed to the nematocyte pathway from dividing and differentiating into nests of nematocytes. Following LiCl treatment, determination to nerve cells and nematocytes is triggered again. Commitment to nerve cells is strongly stimulated within the first 3 h following pulse treatment with LiCl if the animals have been fed immediately prior to treatment. In Hydra exposed to LiCl for 10 days the stem cell density is reduced by at least 90% of the initial value, and nematocytes are almost completely missing, whereas the density of nerve cells is within the normal range in animals with normal morphology. Animals which developed a transverse constriction in the middle of the body axis contain a 1.7-fold higher nerve cell density in the lower part than is observed in control animals.     

Genetic and blood coagulation characterization of “Swedish” families with von Willebrand's disease types I and III: New aspects of heredity

Summary Twenty-five patients with von Willebrand's disease (vWD) type III were analysed with regard to blood coagulation variables and possible deletions. Nine of the probands and their families were further investigated with DNA linkage analyses. Different patterns of heredity can be suggested in our families with vWD type III, on the basis of blood coagulation analyses. The findings suggest homozygosity in five families and the possibility of compound heterozygosity or a new mutation in the proband in three families. The linkage analyses confirm the results of the coagulation analyses. The segregation of the von Willebrand factor (vWF) gene can be followed in the families, and carrier diagnosis can be made in several of the probands' relatives. The possibility of large deletions in the vWF gene of the probands and their parents was investigated with probes representing the whole vWF cDNA. No deletions were found.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Karolinska Hospital (No. 84:1)