Characterization of the binding of the anti-sickling compound, BW12C, to haemoglobin.

The anti-sickling agent BW12C [Beddell, Goodford, Kneen, White, Wilkinson & Wootton (1984) Br. J. Pharmacol. 82, 397-407] was designed to left-shift the oxygen saturation curve of haemoglobin (HbA) by preferential binding to the oxy conformation at a single site between the terminal amino groups of the alpha-chains through Schiff's base formation, ionic and hydrophobic interactions. In the present work, Schiff's base linkages formed with [14C]BW12C were reduced with NaBH4 and the alpha- and beta-globin chains separated. Under oxy conditions at a molar ratio of 2:1, the covalently bound BW12C is localized almost exclusively on a single alpha-chain; tryptic digestion confirms the terminal amino group (alpha 1-valine) as the reaction site, in accord with the design hypothesis. However, about half the labelled BW12C is released on tetramer disruption, suggesting the presence of additional non-covalent binding. Under deoxy conditions, alpha- and beta-chains are labelled approximately equally, and at higher molar ratios additional binding in both oxy and deoxy conditions is seen. Isoelectric-focusing studies under oxy conditions show a complex pattern of modified bands for both HbA and HbA1c (blocked beta-terminal amino groups) but no modification for HbA carbamylated at both alpha- and beta-terminal amino groups or at the alpha-chains only, again confirming the alpha-terminal amino region as the main interaction site. Equilibrium dialysis measurements under oxy conditions indicate two strong binding sites with a binding constant of less than 10(-6) M and a number of weaker binding sites. The present data thus confirm that BW12C binds at the intended locus but reveal additional non-covalent binding at an undefined site, and weaker binding through Schiff's base formation with other amino groups.     

Congo Red Absorption by Rhizobium leguminosarum

Congo red absorption is generally considered a contraindication of Rhizobium. However, R. leguminosarum takes up the dye on yeast extract-mannitol agar. The uptake of congo red varies among strains of R. leguminosarum, as shown elsewhere with strains of R. trifolii and R. meliloti. Congo red absorption does not distinguish rhizobia from other bacteria, but may be useful as a strain marker.     

556例多发伤患者的急诊救治临床分析

目的探讨多发伤患者的救治策略。方法回顾分析我科2000年1月至2008年5月急诊抢救的556例多发伤患者的临床资料。结果 16例患者经抢救无效死亡,死亡率2.88%;其余患者均经紧急抢救及行必要实验室检查,病情稳定,好转率达97.12%。平均抢救时间为(1.37±1.05)h。结论强化多发伤的急诊科早期救治,树立创伤急救"黄金1 h"观念,是提高多发伤患者生存率及降低死亡率的关键。     

Characterization of a thiamin diphosphate-dependent phenylpyruvate decarboxylase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The product of the ARO10 gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was initially identified as a thiamine diphosphate-dependent phenylpyruvate decarboxylase with a broad substrate specificity. It was suggested that the enzyme could be responsible for the catabolism of aromatic and branched-chain amino acids, as well as methionine. In the present study, we report the overexpression of the ARO10 gene product in Escherichia coli and the first detailed in vitro characterization of this enzyme. The enzyme is shown to be an efficient aromatic 2-keto acid decarboxylase, consistent with it playing a major in vivo role in phenylalanine, tryptophan and possibly also tyrosine catabolism. However, its substrate spectrum suggests that it is unlikely to play any significant role in the catabolism of the branched-chain amino acids or of methionine. A homology model was used to identify residues likely to be involved in substrate specificity. Site-directed mutagenesis on those residues confirmed previous studies indicating that mutation of single residues is unlikely to produce the immediate conversion of an aromatic into an aliphatic 2-keto acid decarboxylase. In addition, the enzyme was compared with the phenylpyruvate decarboxylase from Azospirillum brasilense and the indolepyruvate decarboxylase from Enterobacter cloacae. We show that the properties of the two phenylpyruvate decarboxylases are similar in some respects yet quite different in others, and that the properties of both are distinct from those of the indolepyruvate decarboxylase. Finally, we demonstrate that it is unlikely that replacement of a glutamic acid by leucine leads to discrimination between phenylpyruvate and indolepyruvate, although, in this case, it did lead to unexpected allosteric activation.     

Mandelamide hydrolase from Pseudomonas putida: characterization of a new member of the amidase signature family

A recently discovered enzyme in the mandelate pathway of Pseudomonas putida, mandelamide hydrolase (MAH), catalyzes the hydrolysis of mandelamide to mandelic acid and ammonia. Sequence analysis suggests that MAH is a member of the amidase signature family, which is widespread in nature and contains a novel Ser-cis-Ser-Lys catalytic triad. Here we report the expression in Escherichia coli, purification, and characterization of both wild-type and His(6)-tagged MAH. The recombinant enzyme was stable, exhibited a pH optimum of 7.8, and was able to hydrolyze both enantiomers of mandelamide with little enantiospecificity. The His-tagged variant showed no significant change in kinetic constants. Phenylacetamide was found to be the best substrate, with changes in chain length or replacement of the phenyl group producing greatly decreased values of k(cat)/K(m). As with another member of this family, fatty acid amide hydrolase, MAH has the uncommon ability to hydrolyze esters and amides at similar rates. MAH is even more unusual in that it will only hydrolyze esters and amides with little steric bulk. Ethyl and larger esters and N-ethyl and larger amides are not substrates, suggesting that the MAH active site is very sterically hindered. Mutation of each residue in the putative catalytic triad to alanine resulted in total loss of activity for S204A and K100A, while S180A exhibited a 1500-fold decrease in k(cat) and significant increases in K(m) values. Overall, the MAH data are similar to those of fatty acid amide hydrolase and support the suggestion that there are two distinct subgroups within the amidase signature family.     

Sporogenesis in Eusporangiate Ferns: II. Polyplastidic Meiosis in Ophioglossum (Ophioglossales)

Ophioglossum petiolatum . Unlike Angiopteris (Marattiales), which is monoplastidic, Ophioglossum undergoes polyplastidic meiosis like members of the fern-seed plant clade. The meiotic spindle is distinctly multipolar in origin and is consolidated into a bipolar spindle that is variously twisted and curved to accommodate the large number of chromosomes. Although a phragmoplast forms after first meiosis, no wall is deposited. Instead, an organelle band consisting of intermingled plastids and mitochondria is formed in the equatorial region between the dyad domains. Following second meiosis, a complex of phragmoplasts forms among sister and non-sister nuclei. Cell plates are deposited first between sister nuclei and then in the region of the organelle band resulting in a tetrad of spores each with a equal allotment of organelles. Received 30 January 2001/ Accepted in revised form 24 April 2001     

Plasma Membrane Water Permeability of Cultured Cells and Epithelia Measured by Light Microscopy with Spatial Filtering

A method was developed to measure the osmotic water permeability (P_f) of plasma membranes in cell layers and applied to cells and epithelia expressing molecular water channels. It was found that the integrated intensity of monochromatic light in a phase contrast or dark field microscope was dependent on relative cell volume. For cells of different size and shape (Sf9, MDCK, CHO, A549, tracheal epithelia, BHK), increased cell volume was associated with decreased signal intensity; generally the signal decreased 10–20% for a twofold increase in cell volume. A theory relating signal intensity to relative cell volume was developed based on spatial filtering and changes in optical path length associated with cell volume changes. Theory predictions were confirmed by signal measurements of cell layers bathed in solutions of various osmolarities and refractive indices. The excellent signal-to-noise ratio of the transmitted light detection permitted measurement of cell volume changes of <1%. The method was applied to characterize transfected cells and tissues that natively express water channels. P_f in control Chinese hamster ovary cells was low (0.0012 cm/s at 23°C) and increased more than fourfold upon stable transfection with aquaporins 1, 2, 4, or 5. P_f in apical and basolateral membranes in polarized epithelial cells grown on porous supports was measured. P_f ^bl and P_f ^ap were 0.0011 and 0.0024 cm/s (MDCK cells), and 0.0039 and 0.0052 cm/s (human tracheal cells) at 23°C. In intact toad urinary bladder, basolateral P_f was 0.036 cm/s and apical membrane P_f after vasopressin stimulation was 0.025 cm/s at 23°C. The results establish light microscopy with spatial filtering as a technically simple and quantitative method to measure water permeability in cell layers and provide the first measurement of the apical and basolateral membrane permeabilities of several important epithelial cell types.     

Flux Analysis of Glucose Metabolism in Rhizopus oryzae for the Purpose of Increasing Lactate Yields

A flux analysis of glucose metabolism in the filamentous fungus Rhizopus oryzae was achieved using a specific radioactivity curve-matching program, TFLUX. Glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates labeled through the addition of extracellular [U-14C]glucose were isolated and purified for specific radioactivity determinations. This information, together with pool sizes and the rates of glucose utilization and end product production, provided input for flux maps of the metabolic network under two different experimental conditions. Based upon the flux analysis of this system, a mutant of R. oryzae with higher lactate and lower ethanol yields than the parent was sought for and found.     

Design,synthesis, and evaluation of substituted nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) synthetase inhibitors as potential antitubercular agents

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) synthetase catalyzes the last step in NAD⁺ biosynthesis. Depletion of NAD⁺ is bactericidal for both active and dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). By inhibiting NAD⁺ synthetase (NadE) from Mtb, we expect to eliminate NAD⁺ production which will result in cell death in both growing and nonreplicating Mtb. NadE inhibitors have been investigated against various pathogens, but few have been tested against Mtb. Here, we report on the expansion of a series of urea-sulfonamides, previously reported by Brouillette et al. Guided by docking studies, substituents on a terminal phenyl ring were varied to understand the structure–activity-relationships of substituents on this position. Compounds were tested as inhibitors of both recombinant Mtb NadE and Mtb whole cells. While the parent compound displayed very weak inhibition against Mtb NadE (IC₅₀ = 1000 µM), we observed up to a 10-fold enhancement in potency after optimization. Replacement of the 3,4-dichloro group on the phenyl ring of the parent compound with 4-nitro yielded 4f, the most potent compound of the series with an IC₅₀ value of 90 µM against Mtb NadE. Our modeling results show that these urea-sulfonamides potentially bind to the intramolecular ammonia tunnel, which transports ammonia from the glutaminase domain to the active site of the enzyme. This hypothesis is supported by data showing that, even when treated with potent inhibitors, NadE catalysis is restored when treated with exogenous ammonia. Most of these compounds also inhibited Mtb cell growth with MIC values of 19–100 µg/mL. These results improve our understanding of the SAR of the urea-sulfonamides, their mechanism of binding to the enzyme, and of Mtb NadE as a potential antitubercular drug target.