The hemolymph coagulation system in invertebrate animals

A hemocyte lysate from horseshoe crab produced a gel, when exposed to Gram-negative bacterial endotoxins. This gelation reaction of the lysate, so-called Limulus test, has been widely employed as a simple and very sensitive assay method for endotoxins. Recent biochemical studies on the principle of Limulus test indicate that the hemocytes contain several serine protease zymogens, which constitute a coagulation cascade triggered by endotoxins, and that there is a (1 3)--d-glucan-mediated coagulation pathway which also results in the formation of gel. Up to now, six protein components, designated coagulogen, proclotting enzyme, factor B, factor C, factor G and anti-LPS factor, all of which are closely associated with the endotoxin-mediated coagulation pathway, have been purified and biochemically characterized. Among these components, the complete amino acid sequences of coagulogens isolated from one American and three Asian species of horseshoe crabs have been established. Moreover, the reconstitution experiment using the isolated clotting factors, C, B, proclotting enzyme and coagulogen in the presence of endotoxin, leads to the formation of coagulin get. Based on these results, we propose here a mechanism for the Limulus coagulation cascade.     

Kinetics of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase inhibition by glyphosate

The herbicide glyphosate (N-phosphonomethyl glycine) is a potent reversible inhibitor of the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase activity of the purified arom multienzyme complex from Neurospora crassa. Inhibition of the EPSP synthase reaction by glyphosate is competitive with respect to phosphoenolpyruvate, with K(i) 1.1 microM, and uncompetitive with respect to shikimate-3-phosphate. The kinetic patterns are consistent with a compulsory order sequential mechanism in which either PEP or glyphosate can bind to an enzyme: shikimate-3-phosphate complex.     

Streptozotocin diabetes results in increased responsiveness of adipocyte lipolysis to glucagon

Adipocytes from streptozotocin-diabetic rats are approximately 50-times more sensitive to the lipolytic action of glucagon. This change is only perceived in the presence of a small quantity of adenosine deaminase which itself has little effect on basal lipolysis. Insulin treatment restores glucagon sensitivity to normal.     

Size fractionation of thermal aggregates of immunoglobulin G

Purified pooled human immunoglobulin G (IgG) in solution, when extensively heated at high temperatures or for long periods, irreversibly aggregates and insoluble precipitates result. However, when IgG solutions are heated in the temperature range 55-65 degrees C for more limited time periods, soluble turbid polydispersed aggregate mixtures are obtained. Gel filtration of such aggregate mixtures on calibrated Bio-Rad A-150m columns demonstrates a continuous size distribution from dimers to aggregates as large as 4 X 10(7) Da (200-mers) with no particular size predominant. Chromatographically reproducible cuts of narrow size heterogeneity can be obtained by short-time fraction collection. Elution-time reproducibility is excellent both for mixture and for individual cuts. Stability studies indicate that reproducible and stable aggregates may be made from purified IgG and that fractionated aggregates should be stored quick-frozen until needed. Sized IgG aggregates have proved useful in reactivity studies with rheumatoid factor, animal anti-IgG antibodies, and complement.     

A high recovery method for concentrating microgram quantities of protein from large volumes of solution

A method is presented for the recovery of 40-80% of the protein from a 1 microgram/ml solution. The final protein pellet is free of detergent and other ionic compounds and is thus compatible with any denaturing solution. The primary structure of the protein is unaffected by the procedure, making the final pellet an ideal sample for any analytical procedure to determine protein structure.     

Recovery of proteins on a milligram scale from polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels,exemplified by purification of a retinol-binding protein

An apparatus suitable for the recovery of proteins from polyacrylamide gels on a milligram scale by displacement electrophoresis (isotachophoresis) is described along with a buffer system that is suitable for this purpose with most proteins. The technique is illustrated by the recovery of a protein from a 15% polyacrylamide gel. The recovery was almost quantitative and the eluted protein showed little contamination upon quantitative amino acid analysis and automatic Edman degradation.     

Fast-Transported Glycoproteins and Nonglycosylated Proteins Contain Sulfate

35SO4-labeled fast-transported proteins of bullfrog dorsal root ganglion neurons were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and their mobilities were compared to similar species labeled with [3H]mannose or [3H]fucose. Fluorography revealed regions of poorly resolved, high molecular weight material, likely to represent sulfated proteoglycans, as well as many well resolved spots that corresponded in mobility to individual [35S]methionine-labeled fast-transported proteins. The majority of these well resolved spots appeared as "families," previously identified as glycoproteins based on their labeling with sugars. Thus, sulfate can be a contributor to the carbohydrate side-chain charge that underlies microheterogeneity. The most heavily 35SO4-labeled species, however, corresponded to fast-transported proteins that were not labeled by either sugar. The relative acid labilities of 35SO4 associated with individual species cut from the gel confirmed the assignments of these spots as glycoproteins or nonglycoproteins. A group of spots intermediate in their acid lability was also detected, suggesting that some proteins may contain sulfate linked to carbohydrate as well as to amino acid residues.     

Isoelectric focusing with reduced cathodic drift and migration into the anode chamber

An apparatus has been developed to reduce cathodic drift and migration into the anode chamber in vertical gel rod isoelectric focusing (IEF). In contrast to commercially available apparatuses, this apparatus can easily handle many more gels at one time, and the length, diameter and shape of its gel can be arbitrarily changed. In addition, high concentrations of detergent can be used to dissolve the protein samples, and removal of the gel cylinders from the glass tubes is easy.     

Electrophoretic elution of nucleic acids from acrylamide and agarose gels

A simple method for electrophoretic elution of nucleic acids from gel slices is described. The procedure utilizes a standard tube gel system and can be completed in as little as one hour. Nucleic acids are recovered in a small volume with almost 100% efficiency. The procedure is applicable equally to acrylamide and agarose gels, and small as well as large RNA and DNA molecules. The eluted nucleic acids are essentially undegraded and are suitable for a variety of structural and biological analyses.     

The action of lipase on chloroplast membranes: II. Polypeptide patterns of bean galactolipase- and phospholipase A2-treated thylakoid membranes

Thylakoid membranes obtained from bean chloroplasts treated with bean galactolipase or phospholipase A₂ (from Crotalus terr. terr.) showed marked changes in their polypeptide patterns when separated on SDS-PAGE. The obtained results have been discussed with regard to the relationship between chloroplast lipids and polypeptides originating from chlorophyll-protein complexes of bean thylakoids. A coexistence between galactolipids and the peripheral antennae in PS I complex and LHCP³ as well as a conspicuous role of phospholipids in PSI and PSII centre chlorophyll-protein complexes has to be underlined.Abbreviations CP1 chlorophyll a-protein complex of PSI - CPa chlorophyll a-protein complex of PSII - D₁₀ digitonin subchloroplast particles enriched in PSII - D₁₄₄ digitonin subchloroplast particles enriched in PSI - DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - LHCP^1–3 light harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein complexes - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - PSI photosystem I - PSII photosystem II - SDS sodium dodecyl sulphate - TCA trichloroacetic acid - Tricine N-Tris-(hydroxymethyl)-methylglycine - Tris Tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethan