Analysis of the kinetics of cyclic AMP hydrolysis by the cyclic GMP-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase

The kinetics of cAMP hydrolysis by the purified calf liver cGMP-stimulated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase were analyzed in the absence or presence of a number of competitive inhibitors of the methylxanthine type according to a two-site competitive model for allosteric enzymes. Methylxanthines were also classified by graphical analysis of classical competition kinetics at saturating cAMP. This treatment yielded Km/KI ratios which estimated the relative effectiveness of the binding of substrate and inhibitors to the "high affinity" (ES complex) state without establishing individual equilibrium-binding constants of cAMP and inhibitors for specific enzyme states. Individual binding constants for substrate and inhibitors were estimated directly by fitting primary data to the rate equation for the two-site competitive model. The equilibrium dissociation constants for cAMP to the "high" (KS) and "low affinity" (AKS) states were 2.4 +/- 0.8 and 410 +/- 140 microM, respectively. Dissociation constants for various inhibitors to the high (BKI) and low affinity (KI) states were also estimated. The ratio KS/BKI, which directly compared the equilibrium-binding constants of substrate and inhibitors to the high affinity state (ES complex), was in excellent agreement with Km/KI ratios derived from graphical analysis. Whereas a number of the methylxanthine analogues were more effective or as effective as cAMP in binding to the low affinity or "ligand-free" state, only isobutylmethylxanthine was effective as cAMP in binding to the high affinity state (1-methyl-3-isopropylxanthine, and 1,3-dipropylxanthine were somewhat less effective). These findings suggested that allosteric transitions might alter the topography of specific hydrophobic domains at cyclic nucleotide-binding sites and that structural determinants were more stringent for binding to the high affinity state than to the low affinity state.     

Solubilization and Characterization of the Nitrendipine Receptor in Rat Brain

The nitrendipine receptor associated with the voltage-dependent calcium channel in rat brain was solubilized by detergent extraction and sonication. The detergent solution used for extraction consisted of 10 mM 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS), 0.25% (wt/vol) polyoxyethylene 20 cetyl ether (Brij 58), and 0.025% (wt/vol) polyoxyethylene 17 cetyl stearyl ether (Lubrol WX) in the presence of 30% (wt/vol) glycerol as a stabilizer. The molecular weight of the receptor was estimated to be 1,800K by Sephacryl S-500 gel filtration and 800K by sucrose density gradient sedimentation. The equilibrium dissociation constant of [3H]nitrendipine to the solubilized receptors was 5.6 nM, which is approximately 10 times that of the membrane-bound receptor. The binding of nitrendipine to the receptor was inhibited noncompetitively by the structurally unrelated calcium channel inhibitors verapamil and prenylamine; their concentrations for 50% inhibition were both 1.0 X 10(-7) M, and they caused maximal inhibitions of 70 and 100%, respectively.     

An antibody and anti-idiotypic antibody against the extra signal peptide of pre-aspartate aminotransferase

A peptide (extra signal peptide) comprising amino acids 1-29 of pig liver pre-mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (p-mAAT) was synthesized chemically. The peptide was found to block the import of rat liver p-mAAT into rat liver mitochondria. An antibody raised against the peptide immunoprecipitated rat liver p-mAAT synthesized in a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free translation system. These results suggested that the extra signal peptide sequence of p-mAAT is essential for import of p-mAAT into the mitochondria and that there is structural homology between the extra signal peptides of pig and rat liver p-mAAT. An anti-idiotypic antibody against the peptide was also prepared and purified by affinity chromatography on an Affi-Gel 10 anti-peptide IgG column and was then characterized.     

Circular Arrangement of Cortical F-actin around the Subapical Region of a Tip-Growing Fern Protonemal Cell

F-actin organization in the tip-growing cells of fern protonematawas investigated by rhodamine-phalloidin staining in two species:Adiantum capillus-veneris and Pteris vittata. Circular arrangementof cortical F-actin was found around the subapical region ofprotonemal cells in both species. In rhizoids, such structureswere absent and the axial filaments appeared to fan out fromthe tip. (Received May 22, 1989; Accepted September 6, 1989)     

Conformational change of bovine serum albumin by heat treatment

The thermal denaturation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied at pH 2.8 and 7.0 in the range of 2–65°C. The relative proportions of -helix, -structure, and disordered structure in the protein conformation were determined as a function of temperature, by the curve-fitting method of circular dichroism spectra. With the rise of temperature at pH 7.0, the proportion of -helix decreased above 30°C and those of -structure and disordered structure increased in the same temperature range. The structural change was reversible in the temperature range below 45°C. However, the structural change was partially reversible upon cooling to room temperature subsequent to heating at 65°C. On the other hand, the structural change of BSA at pH 2.3 was completely reversible in the temperature range of 2–65°C, probably because the interactions between domains and between subdomains might disappear due to the acid expansion. The secondary structure of disulfide bridges-cleaved BSA remained unchanged during the heat treatment up to 65°C at pH 2.8 and 7.0.     

Possible relationship between poly(ADP-ribose)synthetase and formation of antibody against acetylcholine receptors in patients with myasthenia gravis

We examined the relationship of the serum levels of antibody against acetylcholine receptors to the serum levels of 13 enzymes, including various hydrolytic enzymes, poly(ADP-ribose)synthetase (Poly(ADP-ribose)Syn), and sialyltransferase (NANA-trans), in patients with myasthenia gravis. The patients were divided into two groups, depending on the presence or absence of thymoma. In spite of the absence of significant difference in the absolute levels of individual enzymatic activities between the two groups, the network relationships of such enzymes were quite different between the two groups. Of the 13 enzymes examined, only Poly(ADP-ribose)Syn showed a weak but significant correlation with the level of the antibody in the patients without thymoma. A multivariate study more clearly suggested the relationship between the antibody formation and Poly(ADP-ribose)Syn in the patients without thymoma. Such observations were not found in the patients with thymoma.     

Pre-activation strategy for oligodeoxyribonucleotide synthesis using triaryloxydichlorophosphoranes in the phosphotriester method.

Triaryloxydichlorophosphoranes were tested as condensing agents for oligodeoxyribonucleotide synthesis in the phosphotriester method. Tris(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)dichlorophosphorane (BDCP) was found to be a relatively stable crystalline material which could be used as a chemical reagent. A notable feature of the BDCP-promoted condensation reaction was studied by 31P-NMR. A small amount of BDCP compared to the conventional condensing agent was effective for the generation of active nucleotide intermediates and BDCP itself was quantitatively converted into an inert material, tris(2,4,6-tribromophenyl)phosphate (2). Thus, BDCP enabled us to separate the activation step from the condensation process in the phosphotriester method. This preactivation method was applied to the solid-phase synthesis.     

Cell type-specific expression of the genes for the protein kinase C family: down regulation of mRNAs for PKC alpha and nPKC epsilon upon in vitro differentiation of a mouse neuroblastoma cell line neuro 2a

By the use of cloned cDNAs for protein kinase C isozymes alpha, beta I, beta II, gamma, and those for novel protein kinase C, epsilon and zeta, the expression of the corresponding mRNA species was examined in various mouse tissues, human lymphoid cell lines, and mouse cell lines of neuronal origin. In adult brain, mRNAs for all the isozymes of PKC family are expressed. However, the expression of these mRNA species in brain is low at birth. A similar pattern of expression was also observed for beta I/beta II mRNAs in spleen. These expression patterns are in clear contrast to that for beta I/beta II mRNAs in thymus where the mRNAs are expressed at birth and the levels of expression decrease with age. Human lymphoid cell lines express large amounts of PKC beta mRNAs in addition to PKC alpha. Further, nPKC epsilon mRNA is expressed in some of these cell lines. On the other hand, all the mouse cell lines of neuronal origin tested express nPKC epsilon and zeta in addition to PKC alpha. In a mouse neuroblast cell line, Neuro 2a, down modulation of mRNAs for both PKC alpha and nPKC epsilon was observed in association with in vitro differentiation.     

Evidence that chromium is an essential factor for biological activity of low-molecular-weight, chromium-binding substance

Biologically active Low-molecular-weight, chromium-binding substance (LMCr) has been isolated from the liver of rabbits injected with potassium bicarbonate and cow's milk. This substance enhances glucose oxidation and lipogenesis from glucose in rat adipocytes [Yamamoto A. et al. (1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 165, 627-631; (1988) J. Nut. 118, 39-45]. LMCr was shown to lose its activity almost completely as an effectant of glucose metabolism when Cr was deleted under acidic conditions and separated from LMCr by EDTA-chelation and successive molecular-sieve chromatography. Reincorporation of Cr3+ into apo-LMCr resulted in 50-90% recovery of its original activity. These findings suggest that the biological activity of LMCr resides in Cr.     

Detection of point mutation in the tyrosinase gene of a Japanese albino patient by a direct sequencing of amplified DNA

Summary Enzymatic DNA amplification and direct DNA sequencing were used to detect a mutation in the tyrosinase gene of an albino patient. Single-base change could be detected by direct sequencing. This base change (G to A) is thought to result in an amino acid change (Arg to Gln) in tyrosinase of the patient.