Synthesis of 2-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-D-mannose,and its interaction with D-mannose-specific lectins

Condensation of 3,4:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannose dimethyl acetal with 2-methyl-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl- 1,2-dideoxy-α-D-glucopyrano)-[2′, 1′:4,5]-2-oxazoline in the presence of a catalytic amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid afforded crystalline 2-O-(2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-3,4:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannose dimethyl acetal (3) in 25% yield. Catalytic deacetylation of 3 with sodium methoxide, followed by hydrolysis with dilute sulfuric acid, gave 2-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-D-mannose (4). Treatment of 3 with boiling 0.5% methanolic hydrogen chloride under reflux gave methyl 2-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-mannopyranoside (5) and methyl 2-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-mannofuranoside (6). The inhibitory activities of 4, 5, and 6 against the hemagglutinating and mitogenic activities of Lens culinaris and Pisum sativum lectins and concanavalin A were assayed. From the results of these hapten inhibition studies, subtle differences of specificity between these D-mannose-specific lectins were confirmed.     

Immunochemical and chemical investigations of the structure of glycoprotein fragments obtained from epiglycanin,a glycoprotein at the surface of the TA3-Ha cancer cell

The structures of the carbohydrate chains present in fragments of a large-molecular-weight glycoprotein, epiglycanin, cleaved from the surface of viable TA3-Ha murine mammary carcinoma ascites cells and purified by gel filtration, were studied by immunochemical and chemical methods. Inhibitory activities for neuraminidase-treated and untreated glycoprotein material in the hemagglutination of NN-specific human erythrocytes by eight purified lectins were determined. Excellent inhibition was obtained in the Bauhinia purpurea, Arachis hypogaea, Iberis amara, and Wistaria floribunda systems, and weak inhibition against the Ricinus communis and Glycine max lectins. No activity against hemagglutination by the Phaseolus vulgaris and Phaseolus limensis lectins was observed. These results, when compared with those obtained by periodate oxidation, alkaline borohydride reduction, and partial methylation, suggest the possible presence of six different carbohydrate chains of 1 to 5 components in length, having as terminal groups N-acetylneuraminic acid, galactose, and 2-acetamido-2-deoxygalactose. All chains are attached to a single polypeptide chain by O-glycosyl bonds involving a 2-acetamido-2-deoxygalactose residue and a serine or threonine residue. It is suggested that the native molecule of epiglycanin of molecular weight 500,000 contains more than 500 carbohydrate chains attached to a single polypeptide chain of ≈ 1,300 amino acid units.     

Purification, characterization and identification of rat liver histidine-pyruvate aminotransferase isoenzymes.

1. Histidine-pyruvate aminotransferase (isoenzyme 1) was purified to homogeneity from the mitochondrial and supernatant fractions of rat liver, as judged by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and isolectric focusing. Both enzyme preparations were remarkably similar in physical and enzymic properties. Isoenzyme 1 had pI8.0 and a pH optimum of 9.0. The enzyme was active with pyruvate as amino acceptor but not with 2-oxoglutarate, and utilized various aromatic amino acids as amino donors in the following order of activity: phenylalanine greater than tyrosine greater than histidine. Very little activity was found with tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan. The apparent Km values were about 2.6mM for histidine and 2.7 mM for phenylalanine. Km values for pyruvate were about 5.2mM with phenylalanine as amino donor and 1.1mM with histidine. The aminotransferase activity of the enzyme towards phenylalanine was inhibited by the addition of histidine. The mol.wt. determined by gel filtration and sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation was approx. 70000. The mitochondrial and supernatant isoenzyme 1 activities increased approximately 25-fold and 3.2-fold respectively in rats repeatedly injected with glucagon for 2 days. 2. An additional histidine-pyruvate aminotransferase (isoenzyme 2) was partially purified from both the mitochondrial and supernatant fractions of rat liver. Nearly identical properties were observed with both preparations. Isoenzyme 2 had pI5.2 and a pH optimum of 9.3. The enzyme was specific for pyruvate and did not function with 2-oxoglutarate. The order of effectiveness of amino donors was tyrosine = phenylalanine greater than histidine greater than tryptophan greater than 5-hydroxytryptophan. The apparent Km values for histidine and phenylalanine were about 0.51 and 1.8 mM respectively. Km values for pyruvate were about 3.5mM with phenylalanine and 4.7mM with histidine as amino donors. Histidine inhibited phenylalanine aminotransferase activity of the enzyme. Gel filtration and sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation yielded a mol.wt. of approx. 90000. Neither the mitochondrial nor the supernatant isoenzyme 2 activity was elevated by glucagon injection.     

Organ distribution of rat histidine-pyruvate aminotransferase isoenzymes.

The organ distribution of rat histidine-pyruvate aminotransferase isoenzymes 1 and 2 was examined by using an isoelectric-focusing technique. Isoenzyme 1 (pI8.0) is present only in the liver and its activity is increased by the injection of glucagon, whereas isoenzyme 2 (pI5.2) is distributed in all tissues (liver, kidney, brain and heart) tested, and is not affected by glucagon injection. Isoenzyme 2 of the liver, kidney, brain and heart was purified by the same procedure and characterized. Isoenzyme 2 preparations from these four tissues were nearly identical in physical and enzymic properties. These properties differed from those previously found for the highly purified isoenzyme 1 preparation of rat liver. Isoenzyme 2 was active with pyruvate but not with 2-oxoglutarate as amino acceptor. Amino donors were effective in the following order of activity: tyrosine greater than histidine greater than phenylalanine greater than kynurenine greater than tryptophan. Very little activity was found with 5-hydroxytryptophan. The apparent Km for histidine was about 0.45 mM. The Km for pyruvate was about 4.5 mM with histidine as amino donor. The amino-transferase activities of isoenzyme 2 towards phenylalanine and tyrosine were inhibited by histidine. The ratio of aminotransferase activities towards these three amino acids was constant through gel filtration, electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation of the purified isoenzyme 2 preparations. These results suggest that these three activities are properties of the same enzyme protein. Sephadex G-150 gel filtration and sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation yielded mol.wts. of approx. 95000 and 92000 respectively. The pH optimum was between 9.0 and 9.3.     

Purification and characterization of kynurenine--2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase from the liver, brain and small intestine of rats.

1. Kynurenine-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (isoenzyme 1) was purified to homogeneity from the liver, brain and small intestine of rats by the same procedure. The three enzyme preparations had nearly identical pH optima, substrate specificities and molecular weights. Isoenzyme 1 was active with 2-oxoglutarate but not with pyruvate as amino acceptor, and utilized a wide range of amino acids as amino donors. Amino acids were effective in the following order to activity: L-aspartate greater than L-tyrosine greater than L-phenylalanine greater than L-tryptophan greater than 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan greater than L-kynurenine. The molecular weight was approximately 88 000 as determined by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. The pH optimum was between 8.0 and 8.5. On the basis of substrate specificity, substrate inhibition, subcellular distribution and polyacrylamide-disc-gel electrophoresis, it is suggested that liver, brain and small intestinal kynurenine-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (isoenzyme 1) is identical with mitochondrial tyrosine-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase and also with mitochondrial aspartate-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase. 2. An additional kynurenine-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (isoenzyme 2) was purified from the liver. This enzyme was specific for 2-oxoglutarate and L-kynurenine. Sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation gave a molecular weight of approximately 100 000. The pH optimum was between 6.0 and 6.5. This enzyme was not detected in the brain or small intestine.     

Diurnal change in temperature sensitivity gibba G3 induced by acetylcholine in continuous light

When Lemna gibba G3 was in contact with 10^–5 M Ach oreserine, floral response to chilling changed diurnally under[24(0)], as was the case for control cultures exposed to [16(8)].On the other hand, with a rise in temperature, the min-[24(0)]decreased discontinuously in 24-hr units in Ach cultures subjectedto [24(0)], as did the min-[16(8)] in control cultures. Thusin the presence of Ach or eserine, this long-day plant tookthe continuous light regime, i.e. [24(0)], for another typeof long-day regime consisting of a long light period and a shortdark period, e.g. [16(8)]. In Ach cultures, the lower limitof the min-[24(0)] (72 hr) was attained at 22.5?C and remainedunaltered at the higher temperatures examined. The min-[16(8)]for control cultures, however, known to reach its lower limit(48 hr) at 26?C. Sodium lauryl sulphate (10^–5 M) and ouabain(10^–6 M) also caused a similar diurnal change in temperaturesensitivity of 24(0)] cultures. We surmised that exogenous Ach or inserted dark period modifiesthe relative rates chemical and physical component reactionsinvolved in the floral evocation processes, resulting in therhythmical floral response to chilling. (Received August 1, 1974; )     

Embryoids derived from isolated protoplasts of carrot

Summary Protoplasts isolated enzymatically from carrot root tissues developed into cell clusters in a liquid medium containing coconut milk and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Cells of the resulting calluses differentiated into embryoids on an agar medium containing coconut milk or kinetin.     

Biological activity of fluorinated vitamin D analogs at C-26 and C-27 on human promyelocytic leukemia cells, HL-60

Vitamin D compounds added to the culture medium induce HL-60 cells to differentiate into macrophage/monocytes via a receptor mechanism. This system provides a biologically relevant assay for the study of biopotency of vitamin D analogs. Using this system, the biological activity of various fluorinated derivatives of vitamin D3 was compared with that of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3). As assessed by cell morphology, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and nonspecific esterase activity, 26,26,26,27,27,27-hexafluoro-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (26,27-F6-1,25-(OH)2D3) and 26,26,26,27,27,27-hexafluoro-1,24-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (26,27-F6-1,24-(OH)2D3) were about 10 times as potent as 1,25-(OH)2D3 in suppressing HL-60 cell proliferation and inducing cell differentiation. The biological activity of 26,26,26,27,27,27-hexafluoro-1-hydroxyvitamin D3 (26,27-F6-1-OH-D3) was equal to that of 1,25-(OH)2D3 in this system. 1,25-(OH)2D3 and its fluorinated analogs exerted their effects on HL-60 cells in a dose-dependent manner. HL-60 cells have a specific receptor for 1,25-(OH)2D3 with an apparent Kd of 0.25 nM, identical with that of chick intestinal receptor. While the binding affinities of 26,27-F6-1,25-(OH)2D3 and 26,27-F6-1,24-(OH)2D3 for chick intestinal receptor were lower than that of 1,25-(OH)2D3 by factors of 3 and 1.5, respectively, they were as competent as 1,25-(OH)2D3 in binding to HL-60 cell receptor. The ability of 26,27-F6-1-OH-D3 to compete for receptor protein from HL-60 cells and chick intestine was about 1/70 that of 1,25-(OH)2D3. These results indicate that trifluorination of carbons 26 and 27 of vitamin D3 can markedly enhance the effect on HL-60 cells.     

Purification and partial characterization of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein from human placenta

Cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (CRABP) has been purified to homogeneity from human placenta by a series of procedures, including acetone powder extraction, gel filtration on Sephadex G-50, and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and on SP-Sephadex. Cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) was isolated concurrently. CRABP was purified 75,400-fold, based on total soluble acetone powder extract of placenta. The protein is a single polypeptide chain with a molecular mass of 14,600 Da, estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis or gel filtration, and has an isoelectric point of 4.78 (apo-CRABP, 4.82). On analysis of absorption and fluorescence spectra, the protein was seen to exhibit an absorption peak at 350 nm, fluorescence excitation maxima at 350 and 370 nm, and a fluorescence emission maximum at 475 nm. Human CRABP was immunologically distinct from human CRBP and serum retinol-binding protein.     

Aspartate aminotransferase of Escherichia coli: nucleotide sequence of the aspC gene

The nucleotide sequence of the aspartate aminotransferase [EC 2.6.1.1] structural gene, aspC, of Escherichia coli K-12 was determined. The coding region of the aspC gene contained 1,188 nucleotide residues and encoded 396 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence agreed perfectly with that of the protein recently determined for the aspartate aminotransferase of E. coli B (Kondo, K., Wakabayashi, S., Yagi, T., & Kagamiyama, H. (1984) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 122, 62-67).