Enhancement of spicule formation and calcium uptake by monoclonal antibodies to fibronectin-binding acid polysaccharide in cultured sea urchin embryonic cells

The effect of monoclonal antibodies to fibronectin-binding acid polysaccharide (anti-FAPS) on differentiation of primary mesenchyme cells and spicule formation was examined in cultured embryonic cells isolated from the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. Spicule formation of micromere-derived cells was enhanced by anti-FAPS. The increase of spicule formation correlated with the increase of calcium uptake into micromere-derived cells and spicules. Furthermore, both spicule formation and calcium uptake were inhibited by calcium-channel blockers (verapamil, diltiazem and nicardipine) and divalent ions (manganese and cobalt). These results suggest that FAPS, a component of the blastocoelic extracellular matrix surrounding the primary mesenchyme cells, may regulate the level of calcium uptake and spicule formation.     

Level of translatable messenger RNA coding for argininosuccinate synthetase in the liver of the patients with quantitative-type citrullinemia

Summary The translation activity of mRNA coding for argininosuccinate synthetase in total RNA extracted from the liver of three patients with quantitative-type citrullinemia was determined using a cell-free translation system. In two patients, the hepatic content of the enzyme was about 20% of the control value, whereas translatable mRNA level for the enzyme was similar to or slightly lower than those of control livers. In the third patient, the enzyme content was about 50% of the control value, and mRNA activity for the enzyme was low normal. These results indicate that at least in the first two patients, the decrease in the enzyme protein is due either to increased degradation of the enzyme or to decreased translation in the patient's liver.     

Purification and properties of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase from unfertilized eggs of the sea urchin, Anthocidaris crassispina

Purification and characterization of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase [EC 1.1.1.37] from unfertilized eggs of the sea urchin, Anthocidaris crassispina, are described. The purification method consisted of dextran sulfate fractionation, Blue Dextran Sepharose chromatography, Phenyl-Sepharose hydrophobic chromatography and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The enzyme was purified 771-fold with a 7% yield from the crude extract. The purified enzyme appeared homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under both native and denatured conditions. After incubation at 45 degrees C for 50 min, the enzyme lost about 90% of its activity. In the presence of NADH, however, the enzyme was protected against the heat denaturation. The native enzyme had a molecular weight of about 65,000 and probably consisted of two identical subunits. In the reduction of oxaloacetate with NADH, a broad optimum pH ranging from 8.2 to 9.4 was found with 50 mM Tris-HCl and glycine-NaOH buffers. Sodium phosphate buffer apparently activated the enzyme. The apparent Km values for oxaloacetate and NADH were 19 microM and 30 microM, respectively. The optimum pH for malate oxidation with NAD+ was 10.2 in 50 mM NaHCO3-Na2CO3 buffer. The apparent Km values for malate and NAD+ were 7.0 mM and 0.6 mM, respectively. Zinc ion, sulfite ion, p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate and adenine nucleotides strongly inhibited the enzyme.     

Isolation and characterization of rabbit H of the alternative complement pathway

Rabbit factor H, a control protein of the alternative complement pathway, was isolated from rabbit serum by polyethylene glycol precipitation, DEAE-Sephacel chromatography, and gel chromatography on Sephadex G200. The protein migrated as a single-chain polypeptide with a molecular weight of 160,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis with Laemmli's buffer system, but hardly migrated into the gel with Fairbanks' buffer system. Physical and chemical properties of rabbit H were similar to those of human H, except that fragments produced by limited tryptic digestion from rabbit H had different molecular sizes from those produced from human H. Significant species-specificity was observed in the functional activity of factor H; activation of the alternative complement pathway was inhibited more efficiently with homologous H than with heterologous H. In contrast, factor H inhibited the hemolysis of homologous erythrocytes less than that of heterologous erythrocytes.     

Neutral glycosphingolipids of ova of the fresh-water bivalve, Hyriopsis schlegelii

The neutral glycosphingolipids of ova of the fresh-water bivalve, Hyriopsis schlegelii were characterized. The most abundant glycolipid was ceramide monosaccharide, followed by ceramide trisaccharide, ceramide tetrasaccharide, and ceramide disaccharide. More complex neutral glycolipids accounted for almost one-third of the total. The total amount of these glycolipids was 0.59 mg/g of dry weight of the ova preparation, a yield which was one-seventh of that of spermatozoa neutral glycolipids. Structural analyses were performed by enzymatic hydrolysis of the glycolipids with exoglycosidases, permethylation experiments, and also immuno-chemical assays. The proposed structures are as follows: ceramide monosaccharides, Gal-Cer and Glc-Cer; ceramide disacharides, Gal(beta 1-4)Gal-Cer, Gal(beta 1-4)Glc-Cer, and Man(beta 1-4)Glc-Cer; ceramide trisaccharide, Man(alpha 1-3)Man(beta 1-4)Glc-Cer; ceramide tetrasaccharides, Man(alpha 1-3)[Xyl(beta 1-2)]Man(beta 1-4)Glc-Cer, GlcNAc(beta 1-2)Man(alpha 1-3)Man(beta 1-4)Glc-Cer, Man(alpha 1-3)[Gal(beta 1-2)]Man(beta 1-4)Glc-Cer, and Man(alpha 1-2?)Man(alpha 1-3)Man(beta 1-4)Glc-Cer. The latter two ceramide tetrasaccharides were new types of glycosphingolipids. The spectrum of ova glycolipids appeared to be more complicated than that of the spermatozoa glycolipids. The ova glycolipids characterized here, with the exception of ceramide tetrasaccharides, contained considerable amounts of 2-hydroxy fatty acids, which were not observed in the spermatozoa glycolipids. The major sphingosine base was C18-sphingenine in all the ova glycolipids as well as in the spermatozoa glycolipids. However, the content of anteiso type of sphingosine base was 2- to 3-fold higher in the ova than in the spermatozoa.     

Oxidation of nitroxide radicals by the reaction of hemoglobin with hydrogen peroxide

The ESR signal of 4-hydroxy-1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine in hemoglobin solution decreased drastically by the addition of hydrogen peroxide. The results of ion-exchange chromatography and sodium tetraphenylborate on the reaction solution showed an oxidation of the nitroxide radical to cation form. On the basis of the comparison of thin layer-chromatogram with the reaction products of the nitroxide radicals with HCl or Br2, the formation of 4-hydroxy-1-oxo-2,2,6,6- tetramethylpiperidinium cation was demonstrated. This result was supported by the 13C NMR measurement.     

Control of K+ conductance by cholecystokinin and Ca2+ in single pancreatic acinar cells studied by the patch-clamp technique

Summary The effect of cholecystokinin (CCK) and internal Ca²⁺ on outward K⁺ current in isolated pig pancreatic acinar cells has been investigated using the patch-clamp method for whole-cell current recording under voltage-clamp conditions. CCK (2 × 10^–10 M) applied to the bath evoked a marked increase in the outward K⁺ current associated with depolarizing voltage steps, and this effect was fully reversible and acutely dependent on the presence of external Ca²⁺. When strongly buffered Ca²⁺-EGTA solutions were used inside the cells CCK failed to evoke an effect. Increasing the internal Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺] _i ) from 5 × 10^–10 M to 10^–7 and 5 × 10^–7 M mimicked the effect of CCK. It would appear therefore that CCK controls K⁺ conductance in the acinar cells via changes in the internal free ionized Ca²⁺ concentration.     

Characterization and immunochemistry of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of Ascaris muscle

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and lipoamide dehydrogenase were purified from muscle of Ascaris lumbricoides var. suum which contains relatively a large amount of the complex. Molecular weights of three constituent enzymes of Ascaris pyruvate dehydrogenase complex were as follows; alpha- and beta-subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase were 42,000 and 37,000, respectively, lipoate acetyltransferase was 76,000 and lipoamide dehydrogenase was 56,000. Furthermore, two unknown polypeptides having molecular weight of 46,000 and 41,000 were detected. Anti-Ascaris lipoamide dehydrogenase antibody precipitated three constituent enzymes and two unknown polypeptides, suggesting that lipoamide dehydrogenase not only binds tightly to complex, but also two unknown polypeptides bind tightly to complex.     

13C- and 1H-nmr evidence for all-cis peptide bonds in cyclic tetrapeptide cyclo(L-Pro-Sar)2

Conformations of the cyclic tetrapeptide cyclo(L -Pro-Sar)₂ in solution were studied by ¹H- and ¹³C-nmr spectrometry and model building. The nmr data provide definite evidence that this cyclic peptide exists chiefly in two conformations, namely, a C₂-symmetric conformation and an asymmetric structure. The former was demonstrated to be predominant in polar solvents (100% in Me₂SO-d₆). This structure contains all cis-peptide bond linkages and all trans′ Pro C^α?CO bonds. It represents the first cyclic tetrapeptide in which all four peptide bonds have been found in the cis-conformation. As the polarity of the solvent decreases, the population of C₂-symmetric conformers decreases (88% in CD₃CN and 65% in CDCl₃). At the same time, a minor asymmetric conformer, characterized by cis-cis-cis-trans peptide bond sequences (two cis Sar-Pro bonds, one cis Pro-Sar bond, and one trans Pro-Sar bond), is seen to increase (9% in CD₃CN and 30% in CDCl₃). A proposed predominant conformation in solution for cyclo(L -Pro-Sar)₂ was compared with a crystal structure, as reported in an accompanying paper. Both structures show striking overall similarities.