Differential regulation of basic protein phosphorylation by calcium phospholipid and cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinases

Myelin basic protein, an 80-kilodalton (kDa) protein in rat oligodendrocytes, and an 80-kDa basic protein in neuroblastoma x neonatal Chinese hamster brain explant hybrids were phosphorylated extensively when the cells were treated with either phorbol esters (TPA) or diacylglycerols (e.g., oleyoyl-acetylglycerol). TPA-stimulated phosphorylation was inhibited by pre-incubation with 50 microM psychosine (galactosyl-sphingosine), confirming that it is mediated through the phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (PK-C). Surprisingly, phosphorylation of these proteins was inhibited by incubation of cells with agents which result in activation of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase (dibutyryl cyclic AMP or forskolin). In contrast, phosphorylation of other nonbasic proteins, for example, the oligodendrocyte-specific 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide phosphohydrolase, was stimulated under these conditions (Vartanian et al.: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 85:939, 1988). The possible role of cyclic AMP in activating specific phosphatases or restricting the availability of diacylglycerol for PK-C activation is discussed.     

Enzymatic removal of zeins from the surface of maize starch granules

Alcohol-extractable, hydrophobic zein proteins contaminate starch granule surfaces and can be removed by enzymatic digestion with thermolysin. The goal of this research was to find practical alternatives to thermolysin that might be used during the corn wet-milling process. All of the commercial thermostable alkaline proteases studied (SP 709, Neutrase, and Spezyme FAN) removed the zein proteins from various types of cornstarch, as demonstrated by the lack of protein bands below 30 kDa under the reducing conditions of SDS-PAGE gel. Each enzyme removed the zein proteins as effectively as thermolysin removed them. However, the removal of the zein protein did not reduce the quantity of free fatty acids associated with the starch. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 24, 71–74. Received 27 May 1999/ Accepted in revised form 01 October 1999     

Computational Investigations of the Chalcogen-Substituted Carboxylic Acids RC(=O)XH and RC(=X)OH and their Dimers [RC(=O)XH]2 and [RC(=X)OH]2 (X=S, Se, Te)

Semiempirical and ab initio theoretical methods have been used to investigate molecular structures of the chalcogen-substituted carboxylic acid isomers RC(=O)XH (chalcogenol acid) and RC(=X)OH (chalcogenon acid). A recent experimental report suggests that the chalcogenon isomers, although less stable at room temperature, predominate at low temperature in polar solvents and that there is only a small barrier to isomerization between the isomers. Theoretical calculations have been used to locate minimum energy structures of chalcogen-substituted carboxylic acid isomers and to calculate energy differences between pairs of isomers. Carboxylic acids are well known to dimerize, especially in the gas phase and in non-polar solvents. We have, therefore, also calculated energies of dimerization of the chalcogen-substituted acids by optimizing the geometries of the symmetric dimers. We note that the PM3 level of theory is only qualitatively correct for sulfur- and selenium-containing species but fails even qualitatively for the tellurium-containing compounds. Ab initio results confirm the experimental observations and provide good estimates of both isomerization and dimerization energies. We conclude that for many functional groups with tautomers RC(=X)YH and RC(=Y)XH, the more acidic tautomer is the one with the acid proton on the smaller, more electronegative atom, although in many cases this may not be the more stable tautomer.Electronic Supplementary Material available.     

Cold induction of EARLI1, a putative Arabidopsis lipid transfer protein, is light and calcium dependent

As sessile organisms, plants must adapt to their environment. One approach toward understanding this adaptation is to investigate environmental regulation of gene expression. Our focus is on the environmental regulation of EARLI1, which is activated by cold and long‐day photoperiods. Cold activation of EARLI1 in short‐day photoperiods is slow, requiring several hours at 4 °C to detect an increase in mRNA abundance. EARLI1 is not efficiently cold‐activated in etiolated seedlings, suggesting that photomorphogenesis is necessary for its cold activation. Cold activation of EARLI1 is inhibited in the presence of the calcium channel blocker lanthanum chloride or the calcium chelator EGTA. Addition of the calcium ionophore Bay K8644 results in cold‐independent activation of EARLI1. These data suggest that EARLI1 is not an immediate target of the cold response, and that calcium flux affects its expression. EARLI1 is a putative secreted protein and has motifs found in lipid transfer proteins. Over‐expression of EARLI1 in transgenic plants results in reduced electrolyte leakage during freezing damage, suggesting that EARLI1 may affect membrane or cell wall stability in response to low temperature stress.     

Phase transition kinetics of phosphatidic acid bilayers A stopped-flow study of the electrostatically induced transition

The kinetics of the electrostatically induced phase transition of dimyristoyl phosphatidic acid bilayers was followed using the stopped-flow technique. The phase transition was triggered by a fast change in the pH or the magnesium ion concentration and followed by recording the time dependence of the absorbance. When the phase transition was induced by a pH jump the time course of the absorbance could be described by two exponentials, their time constants displaying the for cooperative processes characteristic maximum at the transition midpoint. The time constants are in the 10 and 100 ms range for the H⁺ triggered transition from the fluid to the ordered state. A third slower process shows no appreciable temperature dependence and is probably caused by vesicle aggregation. For the OH^--induced transition fron the ordered to the fluid state the time constants are in the 100 and 1000 ms range. The fluid-ordered transition could also be triggered by addition of magnesium ions. Of the several observed processes only the fastest in the 10–100 ms time range could definitely be assigned to the fluid-ordered transition while the others are due to aggregation phenomena. The experimental data were compared with results obtained from pressure jump experiments and could be interpreted on the basis of theories for non-equilibrium relaxation.     

The effects of deuterium oxide (2H2O) on the polymerization of tubulin in vitro

The initial rate and final extent of polymerization of both bovine brain tubulin and sea urchin egg tubulin were enhanced in the presence of ²H₂O. The yields were increased in association with the elevation of the ²H₂O concentration. ²H₂O also reduced the critical concentration for polymerization of brain tubulin. Thermodynamic analysis was attempted using the temperature dependence of the critical concentration for polymerization in the presence of ²H₂O. We obtained linear van 't Hoff plots and calculated thermodynamic parameters which were positive and were increased with the elevation of the ²H₂O concentration. The enhancement of the polymerization of tubulin by ²H₂O could, therefore, be the result of the strenghening of intra-and/or inter-molecular hydrophobic interactions of the tubulin molecules. We believe that the increase in lenghth and number of microtubules of the mitotic spindles in the dividing cells of the eukaryotes with ²H₂O may be caused by the direct involvement of ²H₂O in the polymerization of tubulin.     

Hyperthermia Induces the Synthesis of a Heat Shock Protein by Polysomes Isolated from the Fetal and Neonatal Mammalian Brain

Abstract: Analysis of the cell-free translation products of polysomes isolated from fetal brain and other organs indicates that elevation of maternal body temperature induces the synthesis of a heat shock protein of molecular weight 74,000 (74K). The newborn mammal is particularly sensitive to induction of the 74K protein. As early postnatal development proceeds, higher body temperatures are required to induce synthesis of the 74K heat shock protein.