Heterogeneous turnover of terminal and core sugars within the carbohydrate chain of dipeptidylaminopeptidase IV isolated from rat liver plasma membrane

Dipeptidylaminopeptidase IV, a plasma membrane-bound glycoprotein, is characterized by an intramolecular heterogeneous turnover of the protein backbone and carbohydrate chain. The faster turnover of the latter is restricted only to the outer sugars. The inner core sugars D-mannose and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine turn over at the same rate as the protein backbone.     

Effect of rubomycin (daunorubicin) and its nitroxyl analog on the functioning of rat heart mitochondria

Changes in the functional parameters of the rat heart mitochondria were studied in time after a single intraperitoneal administration of rubomycin, the rubomycin combination with 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO-OH) and ruboxyl, a nitroxyl derivative of rubomycin. The administration of rubomycin resulted in inhibition of the heart mitochondria bioenergetic functions (a decrease in the respiration control coefficient, RCC, and the respiration rate, RR, on phosphorylation) during respiration in the presence of NAD(+)-dependent substrates 6 to 24 hours after the administration. Later the mitochondria functions recovered while in 2 to 3 weeks a secondary decrease in the RCC and RR was observed. During respiration in the presence of succinate the inhibitory effect on the antibiotics was higher. The combined administration of rubomycin and TEMPO-OH eliminated the primary inhibition. In the presence of ruboxyl the inhibitory effect in regard to the NAD(+)-dependent substrates was not detected. The mechanisms of the toxic action of the anthracycline antibiotics are discussed.     

Biosynthesis of riboflavin: cloning, sequencing, and expression of the gene coding for 3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase of Escherichia coli.

3,4-Dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate is biosynthesized from ribulose 5-phosphate and serves as the biosynthetic precursor for the xylene ring of riboflavin. The gene coding for 3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase of Escherichia coli has been cloned and sequenced. The gene codes for a protein of 217 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 23,349.6 Da. The enzyme was purified to near homogeneity from a recombinant E. coli strain and had a specific activity of 1,700 nmol mg-1 h-1. The N-terminal amino acid sequence and the amino acid composition of the protein were in agreement with the deduced sequence. The molecular mass as determined by ion spray mass spectrometry was 23,351 +/- 2 Da, which is in agreement with the predicted mass. The previously reported loci htrP, "luxH-like," and ribB at 66 min of the E. coli chromosome are all identical to the gene coding for 3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase, but their role had not been hitherto determined. Sequence homology indicates that gene luxH of Vibrio harveyi and the central open reading frame of the Bacillus subtilis riboflavin operon code for 3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase.     

A role for integrin in the formation of sarcomeric cytoarchitecture

We propose that integrins help to coordinate the differentiation of the internal, sarcomeric cytoarchitecture of a muscle fiber with its immediate environment and are essential for correct integration of muscle cells into tissue. We found that integrin alpha PS2 beta PS accumulated at contact regions of Drosophila embryo cells cultured in D-22 medium on Drosophila laminin. Myotubes formed, but subsequent addition of serum or fibronectin was needed for sarcomere formation: integrin and actin became concentrated at Z-bands; myosin and actin occurred between the Z-bands. This change failed to occur in the multinucleate myotubes derived from integrin beta PS null myospheroid mutants. In normal embryos/early larvae, integrin was located at Z-bands and at muscle insertions. Myogenesis and Z-bands were defective in myospheroid embryos. Attachment, spreading, and growth of myoblasts and neurons on the laminin substrate utilized different binding proteins and were independent of integrin.     

Nitrate Uptake and Assimilation by Wheat Seedlings during Initial Exposure to Nitrate

Nitrate uptake, reduction, and translocation were examined in intact, 14-day-old, nitrogen-depleted wheat (Triticum vulgare var. Knox) seedlings during a 9-hour exposure to 0.2 mm Ca (NO(3))(2). The nitrate uptake rate was low during the initial 3-hour period, increased during the 3- to 6-hour period, and then declined. By the 3rd hour, 14% of the absorbed nitrate had been reduced, and this increased to 36% by the 9th hour. Shoots accumulated reduced (15)N more rapidly than roots and the ratio of reduced (15)N to (15)N-nitrate was higher in the shoots. A significant proportion of the total reduction occurred in the root system under these experimental conditions. Accumulation of (15)N in ethanol-insoluble forms was evident in both roots and shoots by the 3rd hour and, after 4.5 hours, increased more rapidly in shoots than in roots.An experiment in which a 3-hour exposure to 0.2 mm Ca ((15)NO(3))(2) was followed by a 12-hour exposure to 0.2 mm Ca ((14)NO(3))(2) revealed a half-time of depletion of root nitrate of about 2.5 hours. A large proportion of this depletion, however, was due to loss of (15)N-nitrate to the ambient (14)N-nitrate solution. The remaining pool of (15)N-nitrate was only slowly available for reduction. Total (15)N translocation to the shoot was relatively efficient during the first 3 hours after transfer to Ca ((14)NO(3))(2) but it essentially ceased after that time in spite of significant pools of (15)N-nitrate and alpha-amino-(15)N remaining in the root tissue.     

Determination of malate synthase activity in polyacrylamide gels

It is shown that the generation of the insoluble precipitate, copper ferrocyanide, provides a distinct, rapid, and sensitive method for localizing malate synthase in polyacrylamide gels. Both enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle, isocitrate lyase and malate synthase, can now be specifically stained using the same polyacrylamide gel system. This can contribute substantially to elucidating the developmental or adaptive patterns of the glyoxylate cycle and in determining the degree of homology of glyoxylate cycle enzymes from different organisms or organelles. These techniques also provide a simple method for establishing the occurrence of isoenzymes. Finally, the ability to detect a reaction capable of reducing ferricyanide to form cooper ferrocyanide suggests that this technique may be useful for localization of many of the enzymes which generate CoASH (18,19).     

Ultrastructure of the cortical cell of the interrenal gland of the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

Summary The cortical cell of the interrenal gland of the American bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, was examined in the electron microscope. These cells occur in small groups and cords and are quite irregular in shape. The cortical cell is reminiscent of adrenal cortical cells from other vertebrates. Liposomes are variable in size and density. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is scant in amount and predominantly of the fine tubular type. Mitochondria have vesicular cristae, a dense matrix, and occasionally have blebs, vacuoles, and myelin-like whorls at their surfaces. Intimate morphological relationships are found among the Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and liposomes, and among Golgi vacuoles, mitochondria, and liposomes. In addition microfibrils are a prominent feature of the cortical cell. The biochemical events of steroidogenesis in amphibia and other vertebrates are discussed in relationship to the organellar interrelations found in the bullfrog interrenal cortical cells. Based on the available chemical and morphological information a scheme is proposed of movement of the steroidal intermediates through the cell that tentatively identifies the localizations of the various enzyme systems involved in corticosteroidogenesis from acetate to corticosterone and aldosterone.Supported in part by N.I.H. Grant RR 06138. Health Sciences Advancement Award.     

Nitrate absorption and assimilation in ryegrass as influenced by calcium and magnesium

The absorption and assimilation patterns of ¹⁵NO₃⁻ supplied as the Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ salts to intact ryegrass (Lolium perenne) seedlings were compared. No statistically significant effect of ambient cation on the amounts of ¹⁵NO₃⁻ absorbed was observed in the initial six hours, but during the subsequent six hours, absorption from Ca(¹⁵NO₃)₂ exceeded that from Mg (¹⁵NO₃)₂.