The MAS-encoded processing protease of yeast mitochondria. Overproduction and characterization of its two nonidentical subunits

The amino-terminal presequences of proteins imported from the cytoplasm across the mitochondrial inner membrane are cleaved off by a soluble matrix-localized protease composed of two nonidentical homologous subunits. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, these are encoded by the nuclear MAS1 and MAS2 genes. We have now constructed yeast strains in which either one or both of the genomic MAS genes are controlled by a galactose-inducible strong promoter. In these strains, the intramitochondrial concentration of each MAS-encoded subunit as well as of the holo-protease can be varied over a wide range. When overproduced, the MAS1 protein precipitates in the matrix whereas the MAS2 protein remains soluble. The MAS2 protein was obtained at a purity of 98% in milligram amounts. The purified MAS2 subunit exists largely as a soluble 52-kDa monomer. Its cleavage activity is very low and might well reflect the 2% contamination by holoprotease. Activity is restored by adding the solubilized purified MAS1 subunit. Yeast cells depleted of one or both MAS subunits continue to import precursor proteins into mitochondria, but fail to cleave them; eventually the deficient cells stop growing. This growth arrest is partly suppressed on minimal medium or under conditions in which the cells are less dependent on mitochondrial metabolism. Depletion of the MAS1 subunit causes overproduction of the MAS2 subunit.     

Cloning and sequencing of a human pancreatic tumor mucin cDNA

A monospecific polyclonal antiserum against deglycosylated human pancreatic tumor mucin was used to select human pancreatic mucin cDNA clones from a lambda gt11 cDNA expression library developed from a human pancreatic tumor cell line. The full-length 4.4-kilobase mucin cDNA sequence included a 72-base pair 5'-untranslated region and a 307-base pair 3'-untranslated region. The predicted amino acid sequence for this cDNA revealed a protein of 122,071 daltons containing 1,255 amino acid residues of which greater than 60% were serine, threonine, proline, alanine, and glycine. Approximately two-thirds of the protein sequence consisted of identical 20-amino acid tandem repeats which were flanked by degenerate tandem repeats and nontandem repeat sequences on both the amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal ends. The amino acid sequence also contained five putative N-linked glycosylation sites, a putative signal sequence and transmembrane domain, and numerous serine and threonine residues (potential O-linked glycosylation sites) outside and within the tandem repeat position. The cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence of the pancreatic mucin sequence was over 99% homologous with a mucin cDNA sequence derived from breast tumor mucin, even though the native forms of these molecules are quite distinct in size and degree of glycosylation.     

Does 3,5,dibromo-4-nitrosobenzene sulphonate spin trap superoxide radicals?

Pulse radiolysis studies show that the spin trap 3,5,dibromo-4-nitrosobenzene sulphonate (I) reacts rapidly with O2.- but the product formed is very unstable. No radicals were detected in ESR studies of solutions of I after reaction with O2.- formed by gamma-radiolysis. Evidence is presented that the stable radical observed by some, but not all workers, following exposure of I to the O2.(-)-generating xanthine/xanthine oxidase system, is produced by a peroxidatic oxidation using hydrogen peroxide formed by O2-. dismutation and that formation of this radical depends on the presence of peroxidase activity in the xanthine oxidase sample employed.     

Regulation of protein kinase FA (a transmembrane signal of insulin and epidermal growth factor) in the brain

Two forms of type-1 protein phosphatase activating factor (FA) termed FA1 and FA2 have been identified in plasma membranes of pig brain. FA1 is spontaneously active and trypsin-labile whereas FA2 is inactive and trypsin-resistant. Phospholipid reconstitution studies further indicate that the FA activity in the neutral phospholipids-reconstituted complex is spontaneously active and trypsin-labile whereas the FA activity in the acidic phospholipids-reconstituted complex is trypsin-resistant and inactive. The results indicate that inactive FA2 may have its catalytic domain interacted with negatively-charged phospholipids in brain membranes. This provides initial evidence for the regulation of protein kinase FA (a transmembrane signal of insulin and epidermal growth factor) in the central nervous system.     

Cyclic AMP induces activity increase of kinase FA (a transmembrane signal of insulin) during NG108-15 hybrid cell differentiation

The ATP.Mg-dependent protein phosphatase activating factor (protein kinase FA) has been identified to exist in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid 108-15 cells (NG108-15 cells). More importantly, when NG cells were induced to differentiate with N6, O2'-dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (dibutyryl cAMP), the cellular activity of kinase FA was found to increase dramatically. Time course study further revealed that induction of differentiation in NG cells by dibutyryl cAMP treatment increased the FA activity to over 3 times the levels found in undifferentiated cells and in a linear day-dependent manner, indicating that the FA activity level is correlated with the state of differentiation of NG108-15 cells. This is the first report providing initial evidence that protein kinase FA (a transmembrane signal of insulin) is involved in the induction of neuronal cell differentiation.     

The N-terminal amino group essential for the biological activity of notexin from Notechis scutatus scutatus venom

Notexin from Notechis scutatus scutatus snake venom was modified with trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid, and the major trinitrophenylated (TNP) derivative was separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Modification resulted in the incorporation of only one TNP group on the N-terminal alpha-amino group. The TNP derivative showed a precipitous decrease in enzymatic activity and lethal toxicity, whereas the antigenicity remained unchanged. However, trinitrophenylation did not significantly affect the secondary structure of the toxin molecule as revealed by the CD spectra. The results, that the modification reaction was accelerated by the Ca2+ and that the TNP derivative retains its affinity for Ca2+, indicate that the N-terminal alpha-amino group did not participate in the Ca2(+)-binding. The TNP derivative could be regenerated with hydrazine hydrochloride. The biological activities of the regenerated notexin are almost the same as those of native notexin. These results suggest that the N-terminal alpha-amino group is essential for the phospholipase A2 activity and lethal toxicity of notexin, and that incorporation of the TNP group on the N-terminal alpha-amino group might give rise to a distortion of the active conformation of notexin.     

鲍氏志架氏菌的一个新血清型

Two strains which belong to the same serotype of Shigella were isolated from the bloody-pus stool of two patients (in 1986) and is reported in this paper. The results were identical both showing agglutination in low titer with serotype 8 of S. dysenteriae and serotype 4 of S. boydii when the two strains were checked well with all kinds of diagnostic antisera and vice versa, ie the antisera produced by the two strains were also checked well with sera prepared with the representative strains of all Shigella spp. No cross agglutination with O6, O7, and O150 of E. coli were found. Consequently, It appears to be a new serotype of Shigella. These two strains possess the ability of causing keratitis in guinea-pigs as well as invading epithelial cells, the DNA of both strains in agarose-electrophoresis showed a large plasmid, indicating that they are virulent strains possessing invasive ability. It was concluded that these two strains belonged to Shigella boydii as they fermented mannitol and non-related antigenically with Shigella flexneri. Since serotype 1-18 of S. boydii have been reported recently, we propose that this new serotype should be serotype 19 of Shigella boydii.