Histidine decarboxylase of Lactobacillus 30a. Sequences of the overlapping peptides, the complete alpha chain, and prohistidine decarboxylase

The complete amino acid sequence of the alpha chain of histidine decarboxylase of Lactobacillus 30a has been established by isolation and analysis of the eight methionine-containing tryptic peptides of this chain. These peptides provide the overlaps required to order all nine peptides derived by complete cyanogen bromide cleavage of the alpha chain (Huynh, Q.K., Vaaler, G.L., Recsei, P.A., and Snell, E.E. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 2826-2832). Ordering of six of the latter peptides was confirmed by isolation and analysis of four peptides derived by incomplete cyanogen bromide cleavage. The alpha chain is composed of 226 residues and has a molecular weight of 24,892 calculated from the sequence. These results and the previously determined sequence of the beta chain (Vaaler, G.L., Recsei, P.A., Fox, J.L., and Snell, E.E. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 12770-12774) establish the complete amino acid sequence of the enzyme and of the pi chain of prohistidine decarboxylase. The latter is composed of 307 amino acids and has a calculated molecular weight of 33,731. Four segments of the pi chain sequence are repeated. The bond between Ser-81 and Ser-82 that is cleaved during proenzyme activation is in an uncharged portion of the sequence that is rich in serine and threonine residues and is predicted to be part of a beta sheet structure.     

Characterization of purified cytochrome b-c1 complex from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides R-26

A highly purified cytochrome b-c1 complex from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides R-26 was isolated by a procedure involving Triton X-100 solubilization, calcium phosphate column chromatography, and ammonium sulfate fractionation. The purified enzyme complex contains, in nanomoles/mg of protein, cytochrome b, 8.3; cytochrome c1, 8.3; iron-sulfur protein, 15; phospholipids, 182; and ubiquinone, 5. Four major polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 48,000, 30,000, 24,000, and 12,000 were detected in the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The Mr = 48,000 and 30,000 proteins are cytochromes b and c1, respectively. The enzyme complex catalyzes electron transfer from ubiquinol to cytochrome c with a specific activity of 12.6 mumol of cytochrome c reduced per min/mg of protein at 23 degrees C. This is lower than that of the mitochondrial enzyme, although both systems have similar essential redox components and a similar Km for ubiquinol. The activity is fully sensitive to antimycin A and 5-n-undecyl-6-hydroxy-4, 7-dioxobenzothiazole. The enzyme complex is stable at neutral pH and at lower temperatures, but became less stable when the incubation temperature was raised. At 37 degrees C, the half-life is 15 min. The enzymatic activity was insensitive to treatment with N',N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. No p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate-alkylable sulfhydryl groups were detected. The major phospholipids associated with the purified enzyme complex are phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol with molar per cent distributions of 25, 21, and 35, respectively. About 60% of the enzymatic activity was abolished upon treatment with phospholipase A2. The phospholipase A2-inactivated activity can be partially restored by the addition of EDTA followed with phospholipids prepared from either the cytochrome b-c1 complex of the same source or a mixture of phosphatidylglycerol and asolectin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A simple purification of calmodulin by reversed phase chromatography with hydrophobic polymer 3520

A new adsorption chromatography procedure for the purification of calmodulin from bovine brain was developed using polymeric adsorbent 3520. Calmodulin was first isolated by DEAE-Cellulose column chromatography and further purified to apparent homogeneity following elution with 50% ethanol from the adsorbent column. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed one band either in the presence of Ca2+ or EGTA. The polymeric adsorbent 3520 is a non-polar polymer lacking exchangeable groups. The selective adsorption of calmodulin is based on hydrophobic interaction within the matrix, and is Ca2+ independent. Neither high salt (0.5 M NaC1) nor EGTA (5 mM) was able to elute the CaM from the adsorption column whereas ethanol (50%) eluted it completely. This method is simple to use and it provides highly purified calmodulin with high yield.     

Evidence for reduced capacity for damage accumulation and repair in plateau-phase C3H 10T1/2 cells following multiple-dose irradiation with gamma rays

The effects of multiple-dose gamma irradiation on the shape of survival curves were studied with mouse C3H 10T1/2 cells maintained in contact-inhibited plateau phase. The dose-fractionation intervals included 3, 6, and 24 h. Following three fractionated doses (5 Gy per dose) of exposures, cells responded to further irradiation by displaying a survival curve with a much reduced shoulder width (Dq) compared to that of the survival curve measured in cells irradiated with single-graded doses alone. The effect on the mean lethal dose (D0) was small and appeared to be significant. The effect on reduction of Dq could not be completely overcome by lengthening the fractionation intervals from 3 to 6 h or 24 h, times in which repair of sublethal damage (SLD) measured by simple split-dose scheme and potentially lethal damage (PLD) measured by postirradiation incubation was completed. Other experiments showed that pretreatments of cells with fractionated irradiation appeared to slow down the cellular repair processes of SLD and PLD. Therefore, the observed change in the shape of survival curves after fractionation treatments may be attributed to a reduction of the cells' capacity for damage accumulation by an enhancement of the lethal expression of SLD and PLD. Although the molecular mechanism(s) is not known, the results of this study indicate that the acute graded dose-survival curve cannot be used a priori to extrapolate and reliably predict results of hyperfractionation. It is probable that for a nondividing or slowly dividing cell population, such an extrapolation may lead to an underestimation of cell killing. Furthermore, the findings of this investigation appear to support an interpretation, alternative to the high-linear energy transfer (LET) track-end postulate, for the effects on cell survival seen at low doses or low dose rates.     

Social stimulation and the resumption of copulation in Rhesus (Macaca mulatto) and stumptail (Macaca arctoides) Macaques

Copulatory data derived from observations of social groups of rhesus and stumptail macaques were analyzed to test the hypothesis that pairs of animals would resume copulation significantly sooner if a second male copulated with the female shortly after the first male’s ejaculation. Data from both groups supported the hypothesis. These results, extending previous studies in Macaca nemestrina,suggest that the shortening of copulatory intervals by social stimuli occurs in several species, both in social groups and in experimentally created triads. These findings also are consistent with the hypothesis that socially mediated resumption of mating is related to intrasexual competition among males.     

Biological activity in vivo of insulin analogues modified in the N-terminal region of the B-chain

[AlaB5]Insulin as well as a hybrid analogue of insulin and "insulin-like growth factor" (IGF-I), in which the N-terminal amino-acid sequence H-Phe-Val-Asn-Gln- of the B-chain has been replaced by the tripeptide H-Gly-Pro-Glu-of IGF-I, have been prepared by the partial-synthetic route. Their biological activity in vivo has been compared with that of other analogues in rabbits, mice and rats as far as data are available. These rodents respond differently, rats being less sensitive to modifications than rabbits and mice. The results explain unexpected discrepancies discussed in previous papers.     

Comparative antioxidant enzyme study in freshwater fishes. II. Distribution of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in omnivorous fish organs

Comparative studies were performed on the activities of superoxide dismutases, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in organ homogenates from three omnivorous fishes, the barbel, crucian carp and common carp. The lipid peroxidation and protein contents of organ homogenates were also compared. These comparative measurements primarily provide control values for subsequent toxicological examinations. The highest total superoxide dismutase activities were found in the liver or roe, kidney, heart and spleen in every cases. The antioxidant enzyme activities and other studied parameters of the organ homogenates partly appear to depend on the feeding mode, but are rather characteristic of the fish variety.     

Temporal patterns of protein phosphorylation after angiotensin II, A23187 and/or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate in adrenal glomerulosa cells.

The temporal patterns of protein phosphorylation in the adrenal glomerulosa cell were analysed by two-dimensional electrophoresis after stimulation with 10 nM-angiotensin II or various agents [10 nM-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), 50 nM-A23187, 1 microM-nitrendipine], administered singly or in combination. These patterns were compared with the temporal patterns of aldosterone secretion induced by the same agonists and antagonists. After 1 and 30 min of stimulation with angiotensin II, different patterns of protein phosphorylation were observed. A comparison of these patterns reveals that: the phosphorylation of only one protein was persistently enhanced during the continuous incubation with angiotensin II; the phosphorylation of five proteins was transiently enhanced (at 1 min but not 30 min); and the phosphorylation of three proteins did not occur at 1 min but was seen at 30 min. Addition of the phorbol ester TPA alone, which at 30 min is without effect in enhancing aldosterone production, has no effect on protein phosphorylation. The combined addition of TPA and the Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, which, like angiotensin II, evokes a sustained increase in aldosterone production, reproduced the temporal patterns of protein phosphorylation seen after angiotensin II action. Manipulations (A23187 alone, angiotensin II plus nitrendipine) which evoke only a transient rise in aldosterone production rate induce a transient rise in cellular protein phosphorylation. The 1 min patterns of phosphorylation seen after A23187 or combined angiotensin II and nitrendipine (a Ca2+ channel antagonist) are similar to those observed after 1 min of angiotensin II stimulation. These results suggest that, when angiotensin II acts, the initial cellular response is mediated by a different mechanism than that responsible for the sustained response.