The cloning of chromosomal DNA associated with methicillin and other resistances in Staphylococcus aureus

Competitive hybridization was used to detect the deletion of chromosomal DNA accompanying the loss of resistance to methicillin (and concomitantly, to cadmium, mercury and tetracycline) from a clinical strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The method was also used to screen a partial plasmid library of chromosomal HindIII fragments from the MRSA strain. Eight recombinant plasmid clones were identified as containing DNA included in the deletion. These clones were used as probes to screen a phage library of the total DNA of the same MRSA strain, resulting in the isolation of overlapping recombinant phage clones carrying 24 kb of the deleted DNA. Two of the cloned HindIII fragments were associated closely with methicillin resistance, as shown by probing DNA from an independent methicillin-sensitive/resistant transduced strain pair and from two MRSA strains following growth in the presence of high concentrations of methicillin. The endonuclease map of the cloned DNA indicates the presence of four copies of a direct repeat less than 1 kb in size. The map is also consistent with the presence in the chromosome of sequences for mercury resistance (mer A mer B) and for tetracycline-resistance plasmid pT181.     

Conformational analysis of PKI(5-22)amide, the active inhibitory fragment of the inhibitor protein of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Fourier-transform i.r. spectroscopy, 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy and X-ray scattering were used to study the conformation and shape of the peptide PKI(5-22)amide, which contains the active site of the inhibitor protein of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase [Cheng, Van Pattern, Smith & Walsh (1985) Biochem. J. 231, 655-661]. The X-ray-scattering solution studies show that the peptide has a compact structure with Rg 0.9 nm (9.0 A) and a linear maximum dimension of 2.5 nm (25A). Compatible with this, Fourier-transform i.r. and n.m.r. determinations indicate that the peptide contains approx. 26% alpha-helix located in the N-terminal one-third of the molecule. This region contains the phenylalanine residue that is one essential recognition determinant for high-affinity binding to the protein kinase catalytic site.     

Stereochemical control over Mn(II)-thio versus Mn(II)-oxy coordination in adenosine 5'-O-(1-thiodiphosphate) complexes at the active site of creatine kinase

The stereochemical configurations of the Mn(II) complexes with the resolved epimers of adenosine 5'-O-(1-thiodiphosphate) (ADP alpha S), bound at the active site of creatine kinase, have been determined in order to assess the relative strengths of enzymic stereoselectivity versus Lewis acid/base preferences in metal-ligand binding. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data have been obtained for Mn(II) in anion-stabilized, dead-end (transition-state analogue) complexes, in ternary enzyme-MnIIADP alpha S complexes, and in the central complexes of the equilibrium mixture. The modes of coordination of Mn(II) at P alpha in the nitrate-stabilized, dead-end complexes with each epimer of ADP alpha S were ascertained by EPR measurements with (Rp)-[alpha-17O]ADP alpha S and (Sp)-[alpha-17O]ADP alpha S. The EPR spectrum for the complex with (Rp)-[alpha-17O]ADP alpha S showed inhomogeneous broadening due to unresolved superhyperfine coupling from coordinated 17O at P alpha. By contrast, the EPR spectrum for Mn(II) in complex with (Sp)-[alpha-17O]ADP alpha S is indistinguishable from that obtained for a matched sample with unlabeled (Sp)-ADP alpha S. A reduction in the magnitude of the 55Mn hyperfine coupling constant in the spectrum for the complex containing (Sp)-ADP alpha S is indicative of Mn(II)-thio coordination at P alpha.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Olfactory cytochrome P-450. Studies with suicide substrates of the haemoprotein.

1. The olfactory epithelium of male hamsters has been found to be extremely active in the cumene hydroperoxide-supported oxidation of tetramethylphenylenediamine, and this peroxidase activity has been shown to be cytochrome P-450-dependent. 2. The interaction of a series of suicide substrates of cytochrome P-450 with the hepatic and olfactory mono-oxygenase systems has been assessed by determination of peroxidase, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-de-ethylase (ECOD) and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-de-ethylase (EROD) activities after treatment in vivo with these compounds. Chloramphenicol, OOS-trimethylphosphorothiolate and two dihydropyridines [DDC (3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine) and 4-ethyl DDC (3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-4-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethylpyridine)] all caused similar percentage inhibitions of hepatic and olfactory activities, but the absolute amounts of enzymic activity lost were considerably greater in the latter tissue. In contrast, halothane had little effect upon hepatic cytochrome P-450-dependent reactions, whereas it severely inhibited those of the olfactory epithelium. 3. The time course of loss and recovery of hepatic and olfactory peroxidase, ECOD and EROD activities after a single dose of 4-ethyl DDC was studied. The rates of loss of activity observed were very similar, irrespective of tissue or reaction examined. In the olfactory epithelium, all three activities recovered concurrently and at a rate similar to that of the hepatic peroxidase activity. In contrast, the hepatic de-ethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin and 7-ethoxy-resorufin recovered significantly more rapidly. 4. It is suggested that this behaviour is due to 4-ethyl DDC acting not only as a suicidal inhibitor but also as an inducer of certain forms of cytochrome P-450 in the liver; in the olfactory epithelium, however, inactivation, but not induction, occurs. Classical inducing agents were reported to have no effect upon olfactory cytochrome P-450, and in the present study neither phenobarbitone nor beta-naphthoflavone treatment had any effect upon olfactory cytochrome P-450-dependent reactions, although it induced those of the liver.     

Retention of oxidized glutathione by isolated rat liver mitochondria during hydroperoxide treatment

The addition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) to isolated mitochondria resulted in oxidation of approximately 80% of the mitochondrial reduced glutathione (GSH) independently of the dose of t-BuOOH (1-5 mM). Concomitant with the oxidation of GSH inside the mitochondria was the formation of GSH-protein mixed disulfides (protein-SSG), with approximately 1% of the mitochondrial protein thiols involved. A dose-dependent rate of GSH recovery was observed, via the reduction of oxidized GSH (GSSG) and a slower reduction of protein-SSG. Although t-BuOOH administration affected the respiratory control ratio, the mitochondria remained coupled and loss of the matrix enzyme, citrate synthase, was not increased over the control and was less than 3% over 60 min. A slow loss of GSH out of the coupled non-treated mitochondria was not increased by t-BuOOH treatment, in fact, a dose-dependent drop of GSH levels occurred in the medium. However, no GSSG was found outside the mitochondria, indicating the necessary involvement of enzymes in the t-BuOOH-induced conversion of GSH to GSSG. The absence of GSSG in the medium also suggests that, unlike the plasma membrane, the mitochondrial membranes do not have the ability to export GSSG as a response to oxidative stress. Our results demonstrate the inability of mitochondria to export GSSG during oxidative stress and may explain the protective role of mitochondrial GSH in cytotoxicity.     

The effect of glucocorticoids on the in vivo conversion of androstenedione to oestrone

In vitro studies have previously shown that the activity of the aromatase enzyme system, which is responsible for the conversion of androstenedione to oestrone, can be stimulated by natural and synthetic glucocorticoids and also by ACTH. In view of the potential physiological importance of such a regulatory mechanism we have examined the effect of administration of dexamethasone, and of ACTH on the conversion of androstenedione to oestrone in vivo. The transfer constants for the conversion of androstenedione to oestrone [( rho]AEBU) measured in two women before administration of dexamethasone were 1.0% and 1.1% and after were 0.9% and 1.2%. Similarly no increase in conversion of androstenedione to oestrone [( rho]AE1BB) was detected after ACTH stimulation (pre = 0.74%, post = 0.77%). It is concluded from this study that glucocorticoids and ACTH do not have a role in regulating aromatase activity in vivo.