Proteolytic specificity of chicken cathepsin L on bovineβ-casein

The proteolytic specificity of chicken cathepsin L was studied using bovine -casein as substrate. The peptide mixtures obtained after various times of hydrolysis were separated by RP-HPLC and ten peptides were identified. Chicken cathepsin L accepts proline residues in all positions except P ₁ . Looking at the amino acid residues on the amino side of the scissile bond we found three times the Tyr-Pro pair at P ₁ –P ₂ positions and that the S ₁ subsite can interact with modified amino acids such as phosphoserine.Abbreviations RP-HPLC reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography - NMec N-methyl coumarylamide - TEA triethylamine - TFA trifluoroacetic acid     

Structural genes of glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase for porphyrin synthesis in a cyanobacterium and Escherichia coli

Summary In bacteria 5-aminolevulinate, the universal precursor in the biosynthesis of the porphyrin nucleus of hemes, chlorophylls and bilins is synthesised by two different pathways: in non-sulphur purple bacteria (Rhodobacter) or Rhizobium 5-aminolevulinate synthase condenses glycine and succinyl-CoA into 5-aminolevulinate as is the case in mammalian cells and yeast. In cyanobacteria, green and purple sulphur bacteria, as in chloroplasts of higher plants and algae a three step pathway converts glutamate into 5-aminolevulinate. The last step is the conversion of glutamate 1-semialdehyde into 5-aminolevulinate. Using a cDNA clone encoding glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase from barley, genes for this enzyme were cloned from Synechococcus PCC6301 and Escherichia coli and sequenced. The popC gene of E. coli, previously considered to encode 5-aminolevulinate synthase, appears to be a structural gene for glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase. Domains with identical amino acid sequences comprise 48% of the primary structure of the barley, cyanobacterial and putative E. coli glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferases. The cyanobacterial and barley enzymes share 72% identical residues. The peptide containing a likely pyridoxamine phosphate binding lysine is conserved in all three protein sequences.     

Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro) host specificity genes are linked to a nodD-like gene in the broad host range Rhizobium strain NGR234

Summary A 6.7 kb HindIII fragment from the Sym-plasmid of strain NGR234 was found to code a nodD-like gene flanked by two loci which were required for siratro host range. Transfer of the 6.7 kb fragment from NGR234 to R. trifolii strain ANU843 conferred extended host range ability to this strain on siratro plants but not to other plants normally nodulated by strain NGR234. Tn5 mutagenesis of the 6.7 kb fragment showed that insertions located into loci flanking the nodD-like gene abolished the extended host range phenotype. A hybridization probe spanning one of the host specificity loci was shown to hybridize to three specific bands in the NGR234 genome. Complementation and DNA hybridization data showed that the nodD-like gene of strain NGR234 was functionally similar to that in R. trifolii. The introduction to R. trifolii of the 6.7 kb HindIII fragment containing Tn5 insertions located in the nodD-like gene did not abolish the ability to extend the host range of R. trifolii to siratro plants. However, transfer of the 6.7 kb HindIII to R. trifolii derivatives containing Tn5 insertions into either nodA, B or C or other R. trifolii nod genes failed to confer siratro nodulation to these recipients. Reconstruction experiments showed that the 6.7 kb fragment from strain NGR234 and the 14 kb nodulation region of R. trifolii could induce the nodulation of siratro plants when introduced together into Sym-plasmid-cured Rhizobium strains.     

Effects of p,p''-DDT on the Rat Brain Concentrations of Biogenic Amine and Amino Acid Neurotransmitters and Their Association with p,p''-DDT-Induced Tremor and Hyperthermia

Male, Fischer strain 344 adult rats were given various doses (25-100 mg/kg) of p,p'-DDT by oral gavage, and levels of biogenic amines, their metabolites, and amino acid neurotransmitters, tremor activity, and rectal temperature were measured at several intervals (2, 5, 12, and 24 h) after dosing. Dose-related increases in rectal temperature and in tremor activity were observed at 50-100 mg/kg 12 h after dosing. Tremorigenic doses of DDT increased the 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) level in hypothalamus, brainstem, and striatum, whereas doses of 75 and 100 mg/kg increased the 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) level in hypothalamus and brainstem and the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid level in striatum. Six amino acids were assayed in the brainstem, hypothalamus, and striatum; aspartate and glutamate levels were increased only in brainstem at 25-100 mg/kg. No consistent changes in concentrations of taurine, glutamine, glycine, or gamma-aminobutyric acid were observed in any of the regions assayed. Time-related increases in rectal temperature were seen 2-12 h after dosing, and the presence of tremor was observed 5-12 h after dosing; for both the time of peak effect was at 12 h. The DDT-induced hyperthermia and tremor were associated with dose- and time-related increases in levels of 5-HIAA, MHPG, aspartate, and glutamate. It is suggested that an increase in the turnover rate of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) may be responsible for the DDT-induced hyperthermia, whereas increases in the metabolism of 5-HT and norepinephrine may be involved in the tremor.     

Structural implications of primary sequences from a family of Balbiani ring-encoded proteins inChironomus

Summary DNA sequencing has revealed an internal, tandemly repetitive structure in the family of giant polypeptides encoded by three types of Balbiani ring (BR) genes, in three different species ofChironomus. Each major BR repeat can be subdivided into two halves: a region consisting of short subrepeats and a more constant region that lacks obvious subrepeats. Comparative predictions of secondary structure indicate that an -helical segment is consistently present in the amino-terminal half of the constant region in all known BR proteins. Comparative predictions, coupled with consideration of the known phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues in BR proteins, suggest that the -helical structure may also extend into the carboxy-terminal half of the constant region, possibly interrupted by -turn(s). However, it is also possible that the structure is variable, and that a -strand is present in that half in some cases. All of the constant regions conserve one methionine and one phenylalanine residue, as well as all four cysteines; these residues presumably play roles in the packing or cross-linking of aligned constant regions. The structure of the subrepeat region is not clear, but the prevalence of a tripeptide pattern (basic-proline-acidic) suggests some type of structural regularity, possibly an extended helix. The possible significance of these conserved molecular features is discussed in the context of how they may serve the elasticity, insolubility, and hydrophilicity of the fibrils and threads formed by the BR polypeptides.     

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in larval brain of wild type and dunce mutant strains of Drosophila melanogaster: isoenzyme pattern and activation by Ca2+/calmodulin

Like adult heads and whole flies, larval brains of wild type Drosophila melanogaster contain two major soluble cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, forms I and II. Larval brains of the learning-defective mutant strain, dunceM11, contain only the form I enzyme. In both wild type and dunce strains the form I enzyme is activated by Ca2+/calmodulin. A time-dependent loss of this Ca2+ activation was observed.     

The nature of the stable noncovalent dimers of band 3 protein from erythrocyte membranes in solutions of Triton X-100

Stable noncovalent dimers of band 3 protein from human erythrocyte membranes, in which state the protein is thought to exist after solubilization by the nonionic detergent Triton X-100, do not occur when purified batches of the detergent are used. Instead, the protein is in a monomer/dimer/tetramer association equilibrium. The stable dimers do appear, however, when the detergent has been 'aged'. They thus seem to be artifacts.