Purification and biosynthesis of cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum L.) catalase.

As part of our research on peroxisome biogenesis, catalase was purified from cotyledons of dark-grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings and monospecific antibodies were raised in rabbits. Purified catalase appeared as three distinct electrophoretic forms in non-denaturing gels and as a single protein band (with a subunit Mr of 57,000) on silver-stained SDS/polyacrylamide gels. Western blots of crude extracts and isolated peroxisomes from cotton revealed one immunoreactive polypeptide with the same Mr (57,000) as the purified enzyme, indicating that catalase did not undergo any detectable change in Mr during purification. Synthesis in vitro, directed by polyadenylated RNA isolated from either maturing seeds or cotyledons of dark-grown cotton seedlings, revealed a predominant immunoreactive translation product with a subunit Mr of 57,000 and an additional minor immunoreactive product with a subunit Mr of 64000. Labelling studies in vivo revealed newly synthesized monomers of both the 64000- and 57,000-Mr proteins present in the cytosol and incorporation of both proteins into the peroxisome without proteolytic processing. Within the peroxisome, the 57,000-Mr catalase was found as an 11S tetramer; whereas the 64,000-Mr protein was found as a relatively long-lived 20S aggregate (native Mr approx. 600,000-800,000). The results strongly indicate that the 64,000-Mr protein (catalase?) is not a precursor to the 57,000-Mr catalase and that cotton catalase is translated on cytosolic ribosomes without a cleavable transit or signal sequence.     

Potent trypsin-resistant hGH-RH analogues.

A series of analogues of hGH-RH-(1-29)-NH2 designed to have metabolic stability has been synthesized. Standard Boc-SPPS was employed, modified to permit the guanidinylation of amino side-chains after chain assembly but before release from the resin. [Dat1, Har(11, 12, 20, 21, 29), Ala15, Nle27, Asp28]-, [Dat1, Har(11, 20, 29), Orn12, Ala15, Nle27, Asp28]-, and [Dat1, Gap(11,12, 21, 29), Ala15, Har20, Nle27, Asp28]-hGH-RH-(1-29)-NH2 were completely resistant to trypsin and about 50 times as potent as hGH-RH-(1-29)-NH2 itself when injected subcutaneously in rats. These peptides are candidates for clinical application in the therapy of GH deficiency.     

Biochemical, electrophoretic and immunological characterization of peroxisomal enzymes in three soybean organs

Biochemical, electrophoretic and immunological studies were made among peroxisomal enzymes in three organs of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Centennial] to compare the enzyme distribution and characteristics of specialized peroxisomes in one species. Leaves, nodules and etiolated cotyledons were compared with regard to several enzymes localized solely in their peroxisomes: catalase (EC 1.11.1.6), malate synthase (EC 4.1.3.2), glycolate oxidase (EC 1.1.3.1), and urate oxidase (EC 1.7.3.3). Catalase activity was found in all tissue extracts. Electrophoresis on native polyacrylamide gels indicated that leaf catalase migrated more anodally than nodule or cotyledon catalase as shown by both activity staining and Western blotting. Malate synthase activity and immunologically detectable protein were present only in the cotyledon extracts. Western blots of denaturing (lithium dodecyl sulfate) gels probed with anti-cotton malate synthase antiserum, reveal a single subunit of 63 kDa in both cotton and soybean cotyledons. Glycolic acid oxidase activity was present in all three organs, but ca 20-fold lower (per mg protein) in both nodule and cotyledon extracts compared to leaf extracts. Electrophoresis followed by activity staining on native gels indicated one enzyme form with the same mobility in nodule, cotyledon and leaf preparations. Urate oxidase activity was found in nodule extracts only. Native gel electrophoresis showed a single band of activity. Novel electrophoretic systems had to be developed to resolve the urate oxidase and glycolate oxidase activities; both of these enzymes moved cathodally in the gel system employed while most other proteins moved anodally. This multifaceted study of enzymes located within three specialized types of peroxisomes in a single species has not been undertaken previously, and the results indicate that previous comparisons between the enzyme content of specialized peroxisomes from different organisms are mostly consistent with that for a single species, soybean.     

Ontogeny of glyoxysomes in maturing and germinated cotton seeds—a morphometric analysis

Morphometric procedures were used with light and electron microscopy to examine glyoxysome number, volume, shape and distribution as well as mesophyll cell volume, in cotyledons of mature (50 d postanthesis), imbibed (5h) and germinated (24 and 37 h) cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seeds. Additionally, activities of five glyoxysomal marker enzymes in cotyledon extracts were assayed at each of the above ages. Cell volume was determined from photomicrographs of Epon-embedded sections by the point-counting procedure. Analysis of variance showed that cell volume was not different among the tissue segments studied. Glyoxysomes were cytochemically stained for catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) activity with the 3,3-diaminobenzidine-tetrahydrochloride procedure. Analyses involving both phase and electron microscopy, and two separate sterologic calculations for determining the number of glyoxysomes per cell, indicate that glyoxysomes are numerous in mature seeds, persist through desiccation and imbibition, then increase dramatically in volume (seven fold) but not number (a maximum of 1.5-fold), when enzyme activities increase two to six times (depending on the enzyme). During the entire period of increase in glyoxysomal enzyme activities, no ultrastructural evidence was found for glyoxysome formation or destruction. Our data, in contrast to some proposals in the literature, indicate that cottonseed glyoxysomes form during seed maturation, then develop following seed imbibition into pleomorphic organelles by posttranslational accumulation of proteins from the cytosol and transfer of membrane components probably from the endoplasmic reticulum.Abbreviations DAB 3,3-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride - DPA days postanthesis - ER endoplasmic reticulum     

Synthesis of peptidomimetics: An evaluation of the p-nitrophenyl carbamate of ethylenediamine

Summary The application of p-nitrophenyl carbamate of Boc-ethylenediamine for the solid-phase synthesis of peptidomimetrics was examined. The per step yield of coupling was estimated using mass spectrometry, based on the repeated coupling of the same monomer in the synthesis of alkylurea oligomers. Introduction of the urea moiety at the terminus of the chain adjacent to the resin was accomplished by the use of the BHA resin in the assembly of the chain and liquid HF in the cleavage step. In addition, an alkylurea oligomer was treated with bis(p-nitrophenyl) carbonate followed by ammonolysis in order to obtain a urea moiety at the terminus distant from the resin. Aside from the expected oligomer, a product was obtained in which the terminal alkylurea had undergone cyclization. Finally, four peptidomimetics, analogues of 1–4 enkephalin fragment, containing up to four alkylurea units instead of glycine residues, were synthesized. Two of these peptidomimetics were examined for opioid activity and turned out to be active in the guinea pig ileum assay.     

Synthesis and biological activity of homoarginine-containing opioid peptides.

Two tris-alkoxycarbonyl homoarginine derivatives, Boc-Har{omega,omega'-[Z(2Br)]2}-OH and Boc-Har{omega,omega'-[Z(2Cl)]2}-OH, were prepared by guanidinylation of Boc-Lys-OH, and used for the synthesis of neo-endorphins and dynorphins. The results were compared with that obtained in the synthesis in which Boc-Lys(Fmoc)-OH was incorporated into the peptide chain, and after removing Fmoc protection, the resulting peptide-resin was guanidinylated with N,N'-[Z(2Br)]2- or N,N'-[Z(2Cl)]2-S-methylisourea. The peptides were tested in the guinea-pig ileum (GPI) and mouse vas deferens (MVD) assays. The results indicated that replacement of Arg by Har may be a good avenue for the design of biologically active peptides with increased resistance to degradation by trypsin-like enzymes.     

p-Nitrophenoxycarbonyl derivatives of Boc-protected diaminoalkanes in the synthesis of enkephalin peptidomimetics.

The synthesis of p-nitrophenoxycarbonyl derivatives of 1-Boc-1,2-diaminoethane, 1-Boc-1,3-diaminopropane and 1-Boc-1,4-diaminobutane is described. These derivatives were used to synthesize five peptidomimetics, analogues of enkephalin, containing alkylurea units inside the peptide chain and at the C-terminal. All syntheses were carried out in solid phase on MBHA resin. Peptidomimetics with alkylurea units inserted into the peptide chain were synthesized using the standard method employing the Boc-strategy, with TFA deprotection and HF cleavage. The analogue containing a C-terminal alkylurea unit was synthesized using the Boc-strategy, with HCl/dioxane deprotection and TFA cleavage. All of the analogues were examined for opioid activity in GPI and MVD assays. The activity of the analogue containing a C-terminal alkylurea unit was comparable to that of [Leu5]-enkephalin, while the other analogues were less active.     

New potent hGH-RH analogues with increased resistance to enzymatic degradation.

Four hGH-RH analogues containing homoarginine (Har) and/or D-Arg were obtained by solid-phase methodology using Boc-chemistry. To introduce Har residues, a Lys(Fmoc) protected Lys derivative was incorporated in the appropriate positions (11, 12, 20, 21 or 29): after assembly of the peptide chain the Fmoc group was removed and the peptide-resin was guanidinylated by treatment with N,N'-bis(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-S-methylisothiourea. The peptides were cleaved from the resin by treatment with liquid HF, and the products were purified by RP-HPLC. The peptides were subjected to digestion by trypsin, and the course of the reaction was followed by HPLC and ESI-MS. It was found that peptide bonds formed by the carboxyl group of Har are completely stable to trypsin. The course of cleavage at Lys or Arg residues depends on the position of Har in the sequence. All the analogues investigated stimulate the release of GH in rats after subcutaneous administration, and were about 50-100 times as potent as rGH-RH itself. The analogues had no effect on PRL, LH and FSH levels.     

Heterogeneity of catalase in maturing and germinated cotton seeds

To investigate possible charge and size heterogeneity of catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv Deltapine 62), extracts of cotyledons from different developmental ages were subjected to nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. Special precautions (e.g. fresh homogenates, reducing media) were necessary to prevent artefacts due to enzyme modification during extraction and storage. When the gels were stained for enzyme activity, two distinct electrophoretic forms of catalase were resolved in extracts of maturing and mature cotton seeds. In germinated seeds, three additional cathodic forms were detected revealing a total of five electrophoretic variants. In green cotyledons, the two anodic forms characteristic of ungerminated seeds were less active; whereas, the most cathodic form was predominant. All forms of catalase were found in isolated glyoxysomes. Corresponding electrophoretic patterns were found on Western blots probed with anticatalase serum; no immunoreactive, catalytically inactive forms were detected. Western blots of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels revealed only one immunoreactive (55 kilodaltons) polypeptide in cotton extracts of all developmental ages. Results from isoelectric focusing and Ferguson plots indicate that the electrophoretic variants of catalase are charge isomers with a molecular weight of approximately 230,000.     

Cottonseed malate synthase : purification and immunochemical characterization

Malate synthase (EC 4.1.3.2), an enzyme unique to the glyoxylate cycle, was purified to homogeneity from cotyledons of 72-hours, darkgrown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings. Homogeneity of the enzyme was assessed by silver staining SDS-PAGE gels. Purification was accomplished by using a single buffer medium through six steps involving one ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatography on three columns (Sephacryl S-300, DEAE Sephacel, Phenyl Sepharose). Large-scale preparation of glyoxysomes, a main step in all other published procedures, was not involved. The purified enzyme and that extracted from glyoxysomes appears to be a dodecamer with a native molecular weight of 750,000 (sedimentation coefficient of >20 Svedberg units [S] on sucrose gradients) composed of identical subunits (molecular weight approximately 63,000). The monomer (5S) occurs in the cytosol. Polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits were judged to be monospecific for malate synthase by immunotitration, double immunodiffusion, and western blotting. Double immunodiffusion experiments revealed only partial immunological identity between the 5S (cytosolic) and 20S (glyoxysomal forms, although complete identity was observed between the 5S form in immature and germinated seeds, and the 20S form in immature and germinated seeds. Cross-reactivity of the cotton antimalate synthase serum was observed with extracts from five other oilseeds. Western blot analyses showed that malate synthase protein was not present in immature seeds prior to appearance of enzyme activity, but when present, subunit molecular weight was indistinguishable in immature, desiccated, and germinated seeds.