Amino acid composition and biological action of a peptide bioregulator from bovine k-casein

Peptide material has been first isolated from k-casein pepsin hydrolysate. Its subcutaneous injection to hungry animals induced high amplitude (250-350 mV) and high frequency (16-20 Hz) oscillations of electrical potentials usually observed in food satiety and cholecystokinin administration. The peptide reduced respiratory and to a lesser extent heart rate. Its effect is temporary eliminated by naloxone. According to an aminogram, the peptide is a fragment of para-k-casein. A neurotropic peptide effect is connected with satiety regulation and milk consumption in the postnatal period.     

Dual Cyclin-Binding Domains Are Required for p107 To Function as a Kinase Inhibitor

The retinoblastoma (pRB) family of proteins includes three proteins known to suppress growth of mammalian cells. Previously we had found that growth suppression by two of these proteins, p107 and p130, could result from the inhibition of associated cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks). One important unresolved issue, however, is the mechanism through which inhibition occurs. Here we present in vivo and in vitro evidence to suggest that p107 is a bona fide inhibitor of both cyclin A-cdk2 and cyclin E-cdk2 that exhibits an inhibitory constant (K_i) comparable to that of the cdk inhibitor p21/WAF1. In contrast, pRB is unable to inhibit cdks. Further reminiscent of p21, a second cyclin-binding site was mapped to the amino-terminal portions of p107 and p130. This amino-terminal domain is capable of inhibiting cyclin-cdk2 complexes, although it is not a potent substrate for these kinases. In contrast, a carboxy-terminal fragment of p107 that contains the previously identified cyclin-binding domain serves as an excellent kinase substrate although it is unable to inhibit either kinase. Clustered point mutations suggest that the amino-terminal domain is functionally important for cyclin binding and growth suppression. Moreover, peptides spanning the cyclin-binding region are capable of interfering with p107 binding to cyclin-cdk2 complexes and kinase inhibition. Our ability to distinguish between p107 and p130 as inhibitors rather than simple substrates suggests that these proteins may represent true inhibitors of cdks.     

Identification and purification of GTP-binding regulatory proteins from plasma membranes of swine heart

A 23 kDa GTP-binding protein was purified from pig heart sarcolemma. This protein was not ADP-ribosylated by cholera, pertussis and botulinum C3 toxins. In pig heart sarcolemma pertussis toxin ADP-ribosylated 40 kDa subunit of Gi-protein, cholera toxin--45 kDa subunit of Gs-protein, botulinum C3 toxin ADP-ribosylated a group of proteins with Mr 22, 26 and 29 kDa. Antiserum generated against the peptide common for all alpha-subunits of G-proteins did not react with purified 23 kDa protein. Trypsin cleaved the 23 kDa protein in the presence of guanyl nucleotides into a 22 kDa fragment. Proteolysis of the 39 kDa alpha 0-subunit from bovine brain plasma membranes and ADP-ribosylated 40 kDa alpha i-subunit from pig heart sarcolemma in the presence of GTP gamma S yielded the 37 and 38 kDa fragments, respectively. In the presence of GTP and GDP the proteolysis of alpha 0 yielded the 24 and 15 kDa fragments, while the proteolysis of ADP-ribosylated alpha i-subunit yielded a labelled 16 kDa peptide. Irrespective of nucleotides trypsin cleaved the ADP-ribosylated 26 kDa substrate of botulinum C3 toxin into two labelled peptides with Mr 24 and 17 kDa. The data obtained indicate the existence in pig heart sarcolemma of a new 23 kDa GTP-binding protein with partial homology to the alpha-subunits of "classical" G-proteins.     

Isolation of 5-benzyl hydroxytryptophan enantiomers by using microbial aminoacylase

The process of asymmetric deacylation of an acetyl derivative of 5-benzyl hydroxytryptophan racemate in the presence of native microbial aminoacylase was studied. The effect of pH, temperature, concentration of the enzyme and substrate were investigated. Conditions for preparation and isolation of individual amino acids were defined by optimization of N-Ac-DU-5-BOT hydrolysis.     

Assessment of the Resistance to Uranium (VI) Exposure by Arthrobacter sp. Isolated from Hanford Site Soil

Production of nuclear fuel has resulted in hazardous waste streams that have contaminated the soil and groundwater. Arthrobacter strains, G975, G968, and G954 were used in the prescreening tests to evaluate their tolerance to UO₂ ²⁺ and investigate bacteria-U(VI) interactions under oxidizing pH-neutral conditions. Experiments have shown G975 is the fastest growing and the most uranium tolerant strain that removed about 90% of uranium from growth media. Atomic Force Microscopy images exhibited an irregular surface structure, which perhaps provided a larger surface area for uranium precipitation. The data indicate that aerobic heterotrophic bacteria may offer a solution to sequestering uranium in oxic conditions, which prevail in the vadose zone.     

Polyanionic Candidate Microbicides Accelerate the Formation of Semen-Derived Amyloid Fibrils to Enhance HIV-1 Infection

Polyanionic candidate microbicides, including cellulose sulfate, carrageenan, PRO 2000, were proven ineffective in preventing HIV-1 transmission and even cellulose sulfate showed increased risk of HIV acquisition in the Phase III efficacy trials. Semen plays critical roles in HIV-1 sexual transmission. Specifically, amyloid fibrils formed by fragments of prostatic acidic phosphatase (PAP) in semen termed semen-derived enhancer of virus infection (SEVI) could drastically enhance HIV-1 infection. Here we investigated the interaction between polyanions and PAP248-286, a prototype peptide of SEVI, to understand the possible cause of polyanionic candidate microbicides to fail in clinical trials. We found anionic polymers could efficiently promote SEVI fibril formation, most likely mediated by the natural electrostatic interaction between polyanions and PAP248-286, as revealed by acid native PAGE and Western blot. The overall anti-HIV-1 activity of polyanions in the presence or absence of PAP248-286 or semen was evaluated. In the viral infection assay, the supernatants of polyanions/PAP248-286 or polyanions/semen mixtures containing the free, unbound polyanionic molecules showed a general reduction in antiviral efficacy, while the pellets containing amyloid fibrils formed by the polyanion-bound PAP248-286 showed aggravated enhancement of viral infection. Collectively, from the point of drug-host protein interaction, our study revealed that polyanions facilitate SEVI fibril formation to promote HIV-1 infection, thus highlighting a molecular mechanism underlying the failure of polyanions in clinical trials and the importance of drug-semen interaction in evaluating the anti-HIV-1 efficacy of candidate microbicides.