Retinoblastoma protein co-purifies with proteasomal insulin-degrading enzyme: Implications for cell proliferation control

Previous investigations on proteasomal preparations containing insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE; EC 3.4.24.56) have invariably yielded a co-purifying protein with a molecular weight of about 110 kDa. We have now found both in MCF-7 breast cancer and HepG2 hepatoma cells that this associated molecule is the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (RB). Interestingly, the amount of RB in this protein complex seemed to be lower in HepG2 vs. MCF-7 cells, indicating a higher (cytoplasmic) protein turnover in the former vs. the latter cells. Moreover, immunofluorescence showed increased nuclear localization of RB in HepG2 vs. MCF-7 cells. Beyond these subtle differences between these distinct tumor cell types, our present study more generally suggests an interplay between RB and IDE within the proteasome that may have important growth-regulatory consequences.     

Oligomerization and insulin interactions of proinsulin C-peptide: Threefold relationships to properties of insulin

Three principally different sites of action have been reported for proinsulin C-peptide, at surface-mediated, intracellular, and extracellular locations. Following up on the latter, we now find that (i) mass spectrometric analyses reveal the presence of the C-peptide monomer in apparent equilibrium with a low-yield set of oligomers in weakly acidic or basic aqueous solutions, even at low peptide concentrations (sub-μM). It further shows not only C-peptide to interact with insulin oligomers (known before), but also the other way around. (ii) Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of C-peptide shows detectable oligomers upon Western blotting. Formation of thioflavin T positive material was also detected. (iii) Cleavage patterns of analogues are compatible with C-peptide as a substrate of insulin degrading enzyme. Combined, the results demonstrate three links with insulin properties, in a manner reminiscent of amyloidogenic peptides and their chaperons in other systems. If so, peripheral C-peptide/insulin interactions, absolute amounts of both peptides and their ratios may be relevant to consider in diabetic and associated diseases.     

Kinetic and structural features of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenases: Mechanistic and regulatory implications

The betaine aldehyde dehydrogenases (BADH; EC 1.2.1.8) are so-called because they catalyze the irreversible NAD(P)⁺-dependent oxidation of betaine aldehyde to glycine betaine, which may function as (i) a very efficient osmoprotectant accumulated by both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms to cope with osmotic stress, (ii) a metabolic intermediate in the catabolism of choline in some bacteria such as the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or (iii) a methyl donor for methionine synthesis. BADH enzymes can also use as substrates aminoaldehydes and other quaternary ammonium and tertiary sulfonium compounds, thereby participating in polyamine catabolism and in the synthesis of γ-aminobutyrate, carnitine, and 3-dimethylsulfoniopropionate. This review deals with what is known about the kinetics and structural properties of these enzymes, stressing those properties that have only been found in them and not in other aldehyde dehydrogenases, and discussing their mechanistic and regulatory implications.     

布氏锥虫苯丙氨酰-tRNA合成酶在大肠杆菌中的克隆、表达、纯化及活性测定

苯丙氨酰-tRNA合成酶是布氏锥虫蛋白合成过程中的一类重要酶,以其为靶点的抑制剂可能发展成为新一代的抗锥虫药物,但此前并没有分离锥虫苯丙氨酸-tRNA合成酶的报道。本研究用大肠杆菌成功克隆表达并纯化了布氏锥虫苯丙氨酰-tRNA合成酶并进行了活性测定。首先通过PCR方法从布氏锥虫细胞基因组中分别扩增出苯丙氨酰-tRNA合成酶的α亚基、β亚基的基因,依次克隆入pCOLADuet共表达载体,然后在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)RIPL中进行了成功表达,并采用Ni-Bind亲和层析对其进行了纯化,最后用免疫印迹进行了鉴定。此外还采用放射性同位素方法进行了酶活性测定,这为下一步进行布氏锥虫苯丙氨酰-tRNA合成酶抑制物的设计和体外筛选奠定了良好的基础。     

香蕉一个Ⅲ类酸性几丁质酶基因与果实成熟关系的研究

为了解Ⅲ类酸性几丁质酶基因(MaCHⅢ)与香蕉果实采后成熟过程的相互关系,对经乙烯和1-甲基环丙烯(1-MCP)处理的巴西香蕉果实采后乙烯释放量、Ⅲ类酸性几丁质酶基因(MaCHⅢ)表达以及几丁质酶活性进行了测定.结果显示:(1)乙烯催熟处理的香蕉果实,乙烯释放量比对照处理的果实提前15 d达到高峰;1-MCP处理的香蕉果实,乙烯生物合成和果实成熟明显受到了抑制.(2)外源乙烯加速了MaCHⅢ基因的下调表达和Ⅲ类酸性几丁质酶活性的下降,MaCHⅢ表达量和Ⅲ类酸性几丁质酶活性分别在采后第3天和第4天下降到最小值.(3)1-MCP处理使MaCHⅢ基因呈现上调表达,Ⅲ类酸性几丁质酶活性上升,MaCHⅢ基因表达量和Ⅲ类酸性几丁质酶活性分别在采后18 d和25 d达到高峰.研究表明,MaCHⅢ基因可能与香蕉果实采后成熟呈负相关.     

毛竹林土壤酶活性变化的海拔效应

在毛竹分布南缘的中亚热带与南亚热带气候过渡区,选择土壤类型、坡度、坡向、经营水平等一致的3个海拔高度(低海拔90～120m、中海拔360～400m、高海拔700～780m)毛竹林,对其土壤酶活性和物理、化学性质进行了测定。磷酸酶、蔗糖酶和脲酶活性分别为0.031～0.042、0.104～0.146和0.017～0.039mg·g-1.h-1,中海拔是3种酶活性显著变化的转折点。蛋白酶活性为0.248～0.259mg·g-1.h-1,随海拔的升高酶活性缓慢提高。过氧化氢酶活性为0.097～0.143mg·g-1.h-1,随海拔的升高酶活性显著上升。不同海拔高度毛竹林土壤物理性质对土壤酶活性无显著影响。土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮含量与土壤酶活性呈显著或极显著正相关,pH值对土壤酶活性具正效应,海拔梯度上的土壤全磷、全钾、速磷、速钾含量对土壤酶活性影响不显著。不同种类土壤酶活性间呈显著或极显著相关,酶促反应具专一性和共同性特点。     

Vacuolar ethylene formation does not depend on membrane potential

Enzymatic synthesis of ethylene in the vacuole is assumed to require membrane integrity. The possibility that this reflects dependence on the vacuolar membrane potential was investigated. Vacuoles were released from protoplasts isolated from leaves of Vicia faba L. cv. Cyprus. The dependence of the ethylene-forming activity on tonoplast integrity was re-examined by immobilization of the vacuoles in a cross-linked polymeric matrix and subsequent permeabilization of the tonoplast with toluene, a pore-forming reagent. The relationship between the vacuolar ethylene formation and the membrane potential of free vacuoles was investigated by following the uptake of thiocyanate using permeabilized, depolarized and hyperpolarized vacuoles. Toluene and the proton conductor carbonyl cyanide m -chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) caused loss of ethylene-forming activity and depolarized the vacuolar membrane potential. However, depolarization of the membrane potential with choline chloride and hyperpolarization by ATP did not affect ethylene biosynthesis. These conflicting results lead to the conclusion that vacuolar ethylene biosynthesis is not dependent on the vacuolar membrane potential. The possibility that the inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis by toluene and CCCP may result from direct hydrophobic interactions between these compounds and hydrophobic components of the ethylene-forming enzyme is discussed.     

Inhibition by oxalates of spinach chloroplast phenolase in unfrozen and frozen states

Spinach chloroplast phenolase was inhibited by oxalic acid and its salts. Complete inhibitions were induced instantly in the acidic region (e.g. by 1 and 5 mM oxalate at pH 5 and 5.5, respectively), and in the neutral region pre-incubation of the enzyme with oxalates could also lead to complete loss of activity. The inhibition mode was non-competitive for phenol substrate with K_i of 0.9 mM pH 6.8. Reduction of enzyme activity in a crude extract of chloroplasts induced by freezing at neutral pH was due to the presence of ammonium oxalate. With 0.5 mM oxalate, the inhibition attained 75% under frozen conditions, whilst no inhibition could be detected in the enzyme which had not been frozen. Free oxalic acid and K⁺ and Na⁺ salts also caused freezing inhibition. Glyoxylic and oxamic acids acted as inhibitors with less efficiency. With a pure mushroom tyrosinase (phenolase), essentially the identical results were obtained using the same conditions.     

Purification and properties of glutamate dehydrogenase in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) needles

NADH-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH. EC 1. 4. 1.2) was isolated from the needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylverstris L.) grown on a rural and on a heavily polluted industrial area, and it was purified about 500 fold. The purification procedure included salt I'ractionation, ion exchange and affinity chromatography. Miehaelis constants for 2-oxoglularale (1.7 mM). for ammonium sultate (19 mM ) and for NADH (42.5 resp. 53 μM) the pH optimum (8.5) the requirements for Ca²⁺ ions, the temperature dependence ofl the enzyme activity (incubation from 0 to 82°C). and the relation between forest region and electrophoretie isoenzyme pattern were determined. The possible role of GDH in the adaptation of plants to ammonia assimilation (detoxification) under stress conditions, particularly with respect to air pollution, is discussed.