Showing papers in "Biochemical Journal in 1981"
TL;DR: Observations are consistent with the notion that human, and probably rabbit and rat, erythrocyte membranes possess a single polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase that is activated by Ca(2+) and that attacks phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatIDylinotol 4,5-bisph phosphate with equal facility.
Abstract: 1. A new assay procedure has been devised for measurement of the Ca2+-activated polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase (phosphatidylinositol polyphosphate phosphodiesterase) activity of erythrocyte ghosts. The ghosts are prepared from cells previously incubated with [32P]Pi. They are incubated under appropriate conditions for activation of the phosphodiesterase and the released 32P-labelled inositol bisphosphate and inositol trisphosphate are separated by anion-exchange chromatography on small columns of Dowex-1 (formate form). When necessary, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate can be deacylated and the released phosphodiesters separated on the same columns. 2. The release of both inositol bisphosphate and inositol trisphosphate was rapid in human ghosts, with half of the labelled membrane-bound phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate broken down in only a few minutes in the presence of 0.5mm-Ca2+. For both esters, optimum rates of release were seen at pH6.8–6.9. Mg2+ did not provoke release of either ester. 3. Ca2+ provoked rapid polyphosphoinositide breakdown in rabbit erythrocyte ghosts and a slower breakdown in rat ghosts. Erythrocyte ghosts from pig or ox showed no release of inositol phosphates when exposed to Ca2+. 4. In the presence of Mg2+, the inositol trisphosphate released from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate was rapidly converted into inositol bisphosphate by phosphomonoesterase activity. 5. Neomycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic that interacts with polyphosphoinositides, inhibited the breakdown of both phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, with the latter process being appreciably more sensitive to the drug. Phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride, an inhibitor of serine esterases that is said to inhibit phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase, had no effect on the activity of the erythrocyte polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase. 6. These observations are consistent with the notion that human, and probably rabbit and rat, erythrocyte membranes possess a single polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase that is activated by Ca2+ and that attacks phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate with equal facility. Inhibition of this activity by neomycin seems likely to be due to interactions between neomycin and the polyphosphoinositides, with the greater inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate breakdown consistent with the greater affinity of the drug for this lipid. In addition, erythrocyte membranes possess Mg2+-dependent phosphomonoesterase that converts inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate into inositol bisphosphate.
524 citations
TL;DR: Pancreatic islets were found to belong to tissues with relatively little activity of the protective enzymes, and the deviation from other tissues in this respect is probably not large enough to explain the especially great susceptibility of islet cells to alloxan.
Abstract: Exogenous superoxide dismutase, catalase and scavengers of the hydroxyl radical protect pancreatic-islet cells against the toxic actions of alloxan in vitro [Grankvist et al. (1979) Biochem. J. 182, 17--25]. To test whether the extraordinary sensitivity of islet cells to alloxan is due to a deficiency of endogenous enzymes protecting against oxygen-reduction products, we assayed CuZn-superoxide dismutase, Mn-superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in mouse islets and other tissues. To correct for any blood contamination, haemoglobin was also measured in the tissue samples. Pancreatic islets were found to belong to tissues with relatively little activity of the protective enzymes. However, the deviation from other tissues in this respect is probably not large enough to explain the especially great susceptibility of islet cells to alloxan.
496 citations
TL;DR: Human synovial fluid, human cerebrospinal fluid and rat pleural-exudate fluid were found to contain micromolar concentrations of 'free' iron, which would be sufficient to allow formation of the hydroxyl radical from superoxide and hydrogen peroxide generated in vivo.
Abstract: Bleomycin in the presence of iron(II) degrades DNA to form a thiobarbituric acid-reactive product. This has been made the basis of a specific assay method for 'free' iron in biological fluids. Human synovial fluid, human cerebrospinal fluid and rat pleural-exudate fluid were found to contain micromolar concentrations of 'free' iron, which would be sufficient to allow formation of the hydroxyl radical from superoxide and hydrogen peroxide generated in vivo. This assay method does not detect iron bound to transport proteins or to enzymes.
473 citations
TL;DR: Rat tail tendon was stained with a cationic phthalocyanin dye, Cupromeronic Blue, in a 'critical-electrolyte-concentration' method specifically to demonstrate proteoglycan by electron microscopy, and haluronidase digestion in the presence of proteinase inhibitors corroborated the results.
Abstract: Rat tail tendon was stained with a cationic phthalocyanin dye, Cupromeronic Blue, in a ‘critical-electrolyte-concentration’ method [Scott (1980) Biochem. J. 187, 887-891] specifically to demonstrate proteoglycan by electron microscopy. Hyaluronidase digestion in the presence of proteinase inhibitors corroborated the results. Collagen was stained with uranyl acetate and/or phosphotungstic acid to demonstrate the banding pattern a-e in the D period. Proteoglycan was distributed about the collagen fibrils in an orthogonal array, the transverse elements of which were located almost exclusively at the d band, in the gap zone. The proteoglycan may inhibit (1) fibril radial growth by accretion of collagen molecules or fibril fusion, through interference with cross-linking, and (2) calcification by occupying the holes in the gap region later to be filled with hydroxyapatite.
434 citations
TL;DR: Developing tail tendons from rats were examined by electron microscopy after staining for proteoglycan with a cationic copper phthalocyanin dye, and secondary structures suggested to be present in hyaluronate and chondroitin sulphate, but not in dermatan sulphate were discussed.
Abstract: 1. Developing tail tendons from rats (19-day foetal to 126 days post partum) were examined by electron microscopy after staining for proteoglycan with a cationic copper phthalocyanin dye. Cuprolinic Blue, in a "critical electrolyte concentration" method. Hydroxyproline was measured on papain digests of tendons, from which glycosaminoglycuronans were isolated, characterized and quantified. 2. Mean collagen fibril diameters increased more than 10-fold with age according to a sigmoid curve, the rapid growth phase 2 being during 30-90 days after conception. Fibril periodicities were considerably smaller (50-55 nm) in phases 1 and 2 than in phase 3 (greater than 62 nm). 3. Dermatan sulphate is the main glycosaminoglycuronan in mature tendon. Chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronate preponderate in foetal tissue. 4. Proteoglycan was seen around but not inside collagen fibrils. Proteoglycan and collagen were quantified from electron micrographs. Their ratios behaved similarly to uronic acid/hydroxyproline and hyaluronate/hydroxyproline ratios, which decreased rapidly around birth, and then levelled off to a low plateau coincident with the onset of rapid growth in collagen fibril diameter. 5. Dermatan sulphate/hydroxyproline ratios suggest that the proteoglycan orthogonal array around the fibril is largely dermatan sulphate. In the foetus hyaluronate and chondroitin sulphate exceed that expected to be bound to collagen. 6. An inhibiting action of chondroitin sulphate-rich proteoglycan on fibril diameter growth is suggested. 7. The distributions of hyaluronate, chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate are discussed in the light of secondary structures suggested to be present in hyaluronate and chondroitin sulphate, but not in dermatan sulphate.
350 citations
TL;DR: Rabbit bones in tissue culture synthesize an inhibitor of collagenase during the first 4 days of culture, which blocked the activity of the metalloproteinases collagenase, gelatinase, neutral proteinase III (proteoglycanase), human leucocyte collagenase and gelatinases, but not thermolysin or bacterial collagenase.
Abstract: 1. Rabbit bones in tissue culture synthesize an inhibitor of collagenase during the first 4 days of culture. 2. The inhibitor was purified by a combination of gel filtration, concanavalin A--Sepharose chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography and zinc-chelate affinity chromatography. 3. The purified inhibitor migrated as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and had a mol.wt. of 28000. 4. The inhibitor blocked the activity of the metalloproteinases collagenase, gelatinase, neutral proteinase III (proteoglycanase), human leucocyte collagenase and gelatinase, but not thermolysin or bacterial collagenase. The serine proteinases plasmin and trypsin were not inhibited. 5. The inhibitor interacted with purified rabbit bone collagenase with 1:1 stoichiometry. 6. The inhibitory activity was lost after incubation for 1 h at 90 degrees C, after treatment with trypsin (250 micrograms/ml) at 37 degrees C for 30 min and after reduction and alkylation.
327 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that hyaluronic acid is removed from the plasma and degraded quickly by an efficient extrarenal system with a high reserve capacity, sited mainly in the liver.
Abstract: The plasma clearance, tissue distribution and metabolism of hyaluronic acid were studied with a high average molecular weight [3H]acetyl-labelled hyaluronic acid synthesized in synovial cell cultures. After intravenous injection in the rabbit the label disappeared from the plasma with a half-life of 2.5--4.5 min, which corresponds to a normal hyaluronic acid clearance of approx. 10 mg/day per kg body weight. Injection of unlabelled hyaluronic acid 15 min after the tracer failed to reverse its absorption. Clearance of labelled polymer was retarded by prior injection of excess unlabelled hyaluronic acid. The maximum clearance capacity was estimated in these circumstances to be about 30 mg/day per kg body wt. The injected material was concentrated in the liver and spleen. As much as 88% of the label was absorbed by the liver, where it was found almost entirely in non-parenchymal cells. Degradation was rapid and complete, since volatile material, presumably 3H2O, appeared in the plasma within 20 min. Undegraded [3H]hyaluronic acid, small labelled residues and 3H2O were detected in the liver, but there was little evidence of intermediate oligosaccharides. No metabolite except 3H2O was recognized in plasma or urine. Two-thirds of the radioactivity was retained in the body water 24 h later, and small amounts were found in liver lipids. Radioactivity did not decline in the spleen as rapidly as in the liver. The upper molecular weight limit for renal excretion was about 25 000. Renal excretion played a negligible part in clearance. It is concluded that hyaluronic acid is removed from the plasma and degraded quickly by an efficient extrarenal system with a high reserve capacity, sited mainly in the liver.
326 citations
TL;DR: The chemical composition and the 13C n.r.p.m. spectra of heparin oligosaccharides, having high affinity for antithrombin III and high anti-(Factor Xa) activity, prepared by three independent approaches, have been studied and compared with those of the corresponding inactive species.
Abstract: The chemical composition and the 13C n.m.r. spectra of heparin oligosaccharides (essentially octasaccharides), having high affinity for antithrombin III and high anti-(Factor Xa) activity, prepared by three independent approaches (extraction, partial deaminative cleavage with HNO2 and partial depolymerization with bacterial heparinase), leading to different terminal residues, have been studied and compared with those of the corresponding inactive species. Combined wit chemical data, the spectra of the active oligosaccharides and of their fragmentation products afforded information on composition and sequence. The three types of active oligosaccharides were shown to have the common hexasaccharide core I-Aa-G-As*-Is-As, where I and alpha-L-idopyranosyl-uronic acid, Aa = 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranose, G = beta-D-glucopyranosyl-uronic acid, Is = alpha-L-idopyranosyluronic acid 2-O-sulphate, As = 2-deoxy-2-sulphamino-alpha-D-glucopyranose 6-O-sulphate. The fourth residue (As*) is an unusually substituted amino sugar resistant to mild deamination. The 13C spectra of the active species are characterized by signals from the above atypical amino sugar, the most evident of which is at 57.7 p.p.m. These signals, compared with those of appropriate synthetic model compounds, are compatible with the recently proposed 3-O-sulphation of the residue As* [Lindahl, Backstrom, Thunberg & Leder (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 6551-6555].
309 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that because the decrease in A600 of spore suspensions is a late event in germination, it is an unsuitable parameter for studying germination-triggering reactions and shown to be temperature-dependent.
Abstract: The rate of commitment of bacterial spores to germinate after short exposure to L-alanine increases exponentially from the time of addition of L-alanine. This absence of a lag facilitates kinetic analysis and allows the dependence of commitment on temperature and pH to be determined. The pH profile of commitment has been compared with that obtained from measurements of absorbance decreases during germination, and the two profiles exhibit differing pK values. It is suggested that because the decrease in A600 of spore suspensions is a late event in germination, it is an unsuitable parameter for studying germination-triggering reactions. Commitment has been shown to be temperature-dependent, with an optimum at approx. 37 degrees C and an activation energy (mu) of 1.08 X 10(5) J/mol. The data obtained from the present studies have been used to develop a model for the triggering of germination.
307 citations
TL;DR: The focus of the present review is on the regulatory effects of guanine nucleotides and on the growing body of evidence suggesting that the guanin nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein) may represent the functional communicator between hormone-occupied receptors and the adenylate cyclase enzyme.
Abstract: Since the discovery that cyclic AMP mediates the action of a large number and variety of hormones (Sutherland & Robison, 1966), there has been considerable interest in trying to understand the molecular mechanisms by which hormone occupancy of specific cell surface receptors results in activation of membrane-bound adenylate cyclase, the enzyme responsible for synthesis of cyclic AMP from ATP. Although the earliest concepts of the adenylate cyclase system suggested that hormones might regulate adenylate cyclase activity via binding at allosteric sites on the catalytic moiety, more recently it has been demonstrated that adenylate cyclase systems consist of separable receptor and catalytic subunits (Orly & Schramm, 1976; Limbird & Lefkowitz, 1977; Haga et al., 1977a) and, in addition, a third separable component which confers the multiple regulatory effects of guanine nucleotides on the adenylate cyclase system (for a review focusing on the biochemical properties of the separate components see Ross & Gilman, 1980). The focus of the present review is on these regulatory effects of guanine nucleotides and on the growing body of evidence suggesting that the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein) may represent the functional communicator between hormone-occupied receptors and the adenylate cyclase enzyme. The perspective of this review is a historical one; it attempts to summarize the critical observations that established the important role of guanine nucleotides in regulating adenylate cyclase activity and to describe how the further exploration
303 citations
TL;DR: The complement protein C3, when activated by limited proteolysis, forms a short-lived reactive intermediate fragment, 'nascent' C3b, which is known to bind covalently to certain surfaces, and the characteristics of the covalent binding reaction have been studied by using Sepharose-trypsin as a combined proteolytic activator and binding surface for C3.
Abstract: The complement protein C3, when activated by limited proteolysis, forms a short-lived reactive intermediate fragment, 'nascent' C3b, which is known to bind covalently to certain surfaces The characteristics of the covalent binding reaction have been studied by using Sepharose-trypsin as a combined proteolytic activator and binding surface for C3 Binding of C3 to Sepharose-trypsin is saturable, with a maximum of 25-26 molecules of C3b bound per molecule of trypsin A minimum life-time of about 60 microseconds for the reactive intermediate has been calculated from binding of C3 at saturation Initial binding efficiencies of over 30% can be obtained at physiological pH and ionic strength The efficiency of C3 binding to Sepharose-trypsin decreases as pH increases and also shows a slight decline at high ionic strength The covalent binding of C3 to Sepharose-trypsin can be inhibited by a range of oxygen and nitrogen nucleophiles Activation of C3 in the presence of radioactive forms of four such nucleophiles, phenylhydrazine, methylamine, glycerol and glucosamine results in apparent covalent incorporation of the nucleophile into the C3d fragment of C3 The quantity of radioactive nucleophile bound can be predicted from the observed potency of the nucleophile as an inhibitor of the binding of C3 to Sepharose-trypsin The radioactive nucleophiles may be considered as 'active-site' labels for C3
TL;DR: A complete analysis of rat brain phospholipids by the above methods agrees closely with that obtained by other procedures.
Abstract: 1. Quantitative O-deacylation of phospholipids has been achieved by incubation with a reagent containing monomethylamine, methanol and water. The reaction is primarily an O leads to N-transacylation with N-methyl fatty acid amides being formed. 2. The reagent can be removed easily by volatilization and under defined conditions no secondary decomposition of the phosphorus-containing deacylation products occurs. 3. The water-soluble phosphorus compounds derived by deacylation of mammalian tissue O-diacylated phospholipids have been completely separated by a single-dimensional paper ionophoresis with a volatile pH9 buffer. 4. The O-deacylated alkyl and alkenyl phospholipids have been examined by t.l.c. before and after catalytic hydrolysis with Hg2+. 5. A complete analysis of rat brain phospholipids by the above methods agrees closely with that obtained by other procedures.
TL;DR: Evidence is provided that the effects of corticotropin on protein phosphorylation and on polyphosphoinositide metabolism in brain membranes are related.
Abstract: 1. Effects of corticotropin-(1--24)-tetracosapeptide on the endogenous phosphorylation of proteins and lipids were studied in a membrane/cytosol fraction prepared from a lysed crude mitochondrial/synaptosomal fraction. 2. The labelling of proteins and lipids was monitored by incubation of the subcellular fraction for 10s with [gamma-32P]ATP. 3. The phosphorylation of proteins was dose-dependently inhibited by the peptide (40% of control incubations at 100 microM-corticotropin). 4. Of the membrane phospholipids only phosphatidylinositol phosphate, phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate and phosphatidic acid became labelled. Corticotropin dose-dependently increased the formation of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate and inhibited the production of phosphatidic acid (470% and 50% respectively of control incubations, at 100 microM of the peptide) and had no effect on phosphatidylinositol phosphate. 5. Phosphatase activity was observed to act on phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate, phosphatidylinositol phosphate and phosphoprotein but not on phosphatidic acid. 6. Corticotropin interacted with the kinases rather than with the phosphatases. 7. The formation of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate and phosphatidic acid was maximal at 1--10mM-Mg2+ in the absence of Ca2+, and the production of phosphatidylinositol phosphate was maximal at 30mM-Mg2+. 8. The basal value of lipid phosphorylation decreased with increasing Ca2+ concentration. 9. Ca2+ abolished the effect of corticotropin on phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate formation (470%, 190% and 100% of control incubations at respectively 0, 0.1 and 1 mM-Ca2+). 10. The data provide evidence that the effects of corticotropin on protein phosphorylation and on polyphosphoinositide metabolism in brain membranes are related.
TL;DR: Macrophage elastase was purified from tissue-culture medium conditioned by inflammatory mouse peritoneal macrophages and shown to be catalytically and immunochemically distinct from the mouse pancreatic and mouse granulocyte elastases, both of which are serine proteinases.
Abstract: Macrophage elastase was purified from tissue-culture medium conditioned by inflammatory mouse peritoneal macrophages. Characterized as a secreted neutral metalloproteinase, this enzyme was shown to be catalytically and immunochemically distinct from the mouse pancreatic and mouse granulocyte elastases, both of which are serine proteinases. Inhibition profiles, production of nascent N-terminal leucine residues and sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of degraded elastin indicated that macrophage elastase is an endopeptidase, with properties of a metalloproteinase, rather than a serine proteinase. Macrophage elastase was inhibited by alpha 2-macroglobulin, but not by alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor. Macrophage elastase was resolved into three chromatographically distinct forms. The predominant form had mol.wt. 22 000 and was purified 4100-fold. Purification of biosynthetically radiolabelled elastase indicated that this form represented less than 0.5% of the secreted protein of macrophages. Approx. 800% of the starting activity was recovered after purification. Evidence was obtained for an excess of an endogenous inhibitor masking more than 80% of the secreted activity.
TL;DR: Lactoferrin containing physiological amounts of iron is an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation induced by iron(III) salts and ascorbic acid and might therefore help to protect neutrophils, inflammatory foci and secretions from metal-ion-dependent oxidative damage.
Abstract: Lactoferrin containing physiological amounts of iron is an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation induced by iron(III) salts and ascorbic acid. It might therefore help to protect neutrophils, inflammatory foci and secretions from metal-ion-dependent oxidative damage.
TL;DR: Inactivation of Factor Xa, Factor XIIa and kallikrein was, however, less dependent on the size of the polysaccharide and, to a great extent, was potentiated even by low-molecular-weight heparin fractions that had virtually no effect on the inhibition of thrombin, Factor IXa and Factor XIa.
Abstract: Heparin fractions of different molecular weight and with high affinity for antithrombin were studied with respect to their ability to potentiate the inhibition of activated clotting factors by antithrombin. Inhibition of thrombin, Factor IXa and Factor XIa showed similarities in the dependence on the molecular weight of heparin and was found to decrease with decreasing molecular weight. Inactivation of Factor Xa, Factor XIIa and kallikrein was, however, less dependent on the size of the polysaccharide and, to a great extent, was potentiated even by low-molecular-weight heparin fractions that had virtually no effect on the inhibition of thrombin, Factor IXa and Factor XIa.
TL;DR: In the absence of added catalyst, the reaction was hardly detectable, the rate being less than 5% of that observed with 1 microM-iron--EDTA added, implying that the fluids had little if any capacity to catalyse hydroxyl radical production via this mechanism.
Abstract: Hydroxyl radical production, detected by ethylene formation from methional, has been investigated in plasma, lymph and synovial fluid. In the presence of added iron-EDTA, addition of either H2O2 or xanthine and xanthine oxidase gave rise to hydroxyl radical formation that in most cases was not superoxide-dependent. The ascorbate already present in the fluid appeared to participate in the reaction. In the absence of added catalyst, the reaction was hardly detectable, the rate being less than 5% of that observed with 1 microM-iron-EDTA added. This implies that the fluids had little if any capacity to catalyse hydroxyl radical production via this mechanism.
TL;DR: The various results indicate an absolute requirement for a hydrogen-bond-donor function in the side chain of the hydroxy amino acid of the "marker sequence" and point to a considerable influence of the structure of this amino acid on binding as well as on the glycosyl transfer itself.
Abstract: The catalytical role of the hydroxy amino acid in the "marker sequence" Asn-Xaa-Thr(Ser) for the N-glycosylation step of glycoprotein formation was investigated by using a series of hexapeptides derived from Tyr-Asn-Gly-Xaa-Ser-Val by substituting threonine, serine, cysteine, valine and O-methylthreonine respectively for Xaa. The results, which were obtained with calf liver microsomal fractions as enzyme source and dolichyl diphosphate di-N-acetyl [14C] chitobiose as glycosyl donor showed that the threonine-, serine- and cysteine-containing derivatives could be glycosylated, although at very different rates, whereas the valine and O-methylthreonine analogues did not work as glycosyl acceptors. Replacement of threonine by serine resulted in a 4-fold decrease in Vmax, and about a 10-fold increase in Km for glycosyl transfer. Replacement of serine by cysteine again decreased acceptor activity 2-3-fold. The various results, taken together, indicate an absolute requirement for a hydrogen-bond-donor function in the side chain of the hydroxy amino acid of the "marker sequence" and furthermore, point to a considerable influence of the structure of this amino acid on binding as well as on the glycosyl transfer itself. In order to explain the observed differences in the glycosyl-transfer rates, a model is proposed with a hydrogen-bond interaction between the amide of asparagine as the hydrogen-bond donor and the oxygen of the hydroxy group of the hydroxy amino acid as the hydrogen-bond acceptor. The participation of the hydroxy group in the catalytic mechanism of glycosyl transfer in the kind of proton-relay system is discussed.
TL;DR: Liver UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity towards bilirubin was studied in a total of 88 human subjects, including foetuses, premature and full-term newborn babies, infants, children, and adults.
Abstract: Liver UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity towards bilirubin was studied in a total of 88 human subjects, including foetuses, premature and full-term newborn babies, infants, children, and adults. Determination of very low enzyme activity was performed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Prenatal and postnatal changes of the activity can be divided into four developmental phases, i.e. middle foetal, late foetal, neonatal and early infantile, and mature. The activities of the first three phases corresponded to about 0.1, 0.1-1 and 1-100%, respectively, of the mature-phase values (mean +/- S.D.: 1320 +/- 514 microgram/h per g of liver, n = 27).
TL;DR: An NADP-specific alcohol--aldehyde/ketone oxidoreductase was detected in cell extracts of Thermoanaerobium brockii and Clostridium thermohydrosulfuricum and appears to have properties distinct from those of previously described primary- and secondary-alcohol dehydrogenases.
Abstract: An NADP-specific alcohol--aldehyde/ketone oxidoreductase was detected in cell extracts of Thermoanaerobium brockii and Clostridium thermohydrosulfuricum, but not in Thermobacteroides acetoethylicus or Clostridium thermocellum. The enzyme was purified from Ta. brockii by differential procedures that included heat treatment and an affinity-chromatography step on Blue Dextran--Sepharose. The 44-fold-purified enzyme displayed one band (mol.wt. approx. 40000) after sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The enzyme had a broad substrate specificity that included linear and branched primary alcohols, linear and cyclic secondary alcohols, linear and cyclic ketones, and acetaldehyde. The NADP-specific alcohol--aldehyde/ketone oxidoreductase was considerably more active towards secondary alcohols than towards other substrates. The enzyme had remarkable stability to heating at 86 degrees C for 70 min, but was rapidly denatured on boiling. Secondary-alcohol dehydrogenase activity displayed a noticeable inflexion point at 50 degrees C in Arrhenius plots and a high Q10 value (greater than 2.0). The enzyme was inactivated by the thiol-blocking reagent p-chloromercuribenzoate, but was not significantly inhibited by common metal-ion-binding agents. The NADP-linked alcohol--aldehyde/ketone oxidoreductase of Ta. brockii appears to have properties distinct from those of previously described primary- and secondary-alcohol dehydrogenases.
TL;DR: The oxidation-reduction midpoint potential of the cytochrome b found in the plasma membrane of human neutrophils has been determined at pH 7.0 from measurements of absorption spectra at fixed potentials, compatible with cy tochrome b-245 acting as an oxidase.
Abstract: The oxidation-reduction midpoint potential of the cytochrome b found in the plasma membrane of human neutrophils has been determined at pH 7.0 (Em,7.0) from measurements of absorption spectra at fixed potentials. In both unstimulated and phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated cells Em,7.0 was -245 mV. Changes in pH affected the Em of the cytochrome b, with a slope of approx. 25 mV/pH unit change. The Em,7.0 of the haem group(s) of the membrane-bound myeloperoxidase of human neutrophils was found to be +34 mV. The plasma membranes contained no detectable ubiquinone, and no iron-sulphur compounds were detected by e.p.r. spectroscopy at 5-20 K. No flavins were detected by e.p.r. spectroscopy. The cytochrome b-245 was not reduced by added NADH or NADPH. Dithionite-reduced cytochrome b-245 formed a complex with CO, supplied as a saturated solution, which was dissociated with 26 microseconds illumination from a xenon flash lamp, and the recombination with CO had a half-time of approx. 6 ms. Partly (80%) reduced cytochrome b-245 was oxidized by added air-saturated buffer with a half-time faster than 1 s at 20 degrees C, a resolution limited by mixing time. These results are compatible with cytochrome b-245 acting as an oxidase.
TL;DR: The molecular model implicated by these findings is that platelet-derived growth factor consists of two different polypeptides chains, linked by disulphide bridges.
Abstract: Platelet-derived growth factor was purified from fresh platelets by a large-scale procedure not involving the use of SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate). The product, 0.5 mg of platelet-derived growth factor, obtained from about 3 x 10(13) platelets migrated as a single component in analytical gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS and showed no inhomogeneity on sedimentation-equilibrium analysis in the ultracentrifuge. It had a high specific activity, 2 ng of platelet-derived growth factor/ml (70pM) being equivalent to 1% (v/v) human serum in an assay for multiplication-stimulating activity. Amino acid analysis revealed that platelet-derived growth factor contains all the common amino acids, except tryptophan, but no hexosamine. The molecular weight of platelet-derived growth factor, as determined by sedimentation-equilibrium analysis, was about 33 000. A similar value was obtained by gel electrophoresis in SDS under non-reducing conditions. In the presence of reducing agents the factor molecule was converted into two distinct components of lower molecular weight (17 000 and 14 000 respectively), as demonstrated by protein staining. The molecular model implicated by these findings is that platelet-derived growth factor consists of two different polypeptides chains, linked by disulphide bridges.
TL;DR: An abnormal porphyrin, tentatively identified as an NN-bridged benzyne-protoporphyr in IX adduct, appears to be formed by the addition of catalytically generated benzynes to prosthetic haem.
Abstract: Destruction of hepatic cytochrome P-450 during catalytic processing of 1-amino-benzotriazole is accompanied by an equal loss of microsomal haem but not by loss of cytochrome b5, or stimulation of lipid peroxidation. An abnormal porphyrin, tentatively identified as an NN-bridged benzyne-protoporphyrin IX adduct, appears to be formed by the addition of catalytically generated benzyne to prosthetic haem.
TL;DR: The accumulated deoxyglucose 6-phosphate provided an independent method for measuring cytosolic pH in the normoxic and ischaemic heart tissue and a way of studying the activity of phosphorylase during ischaemia.
Abstract: 1. The uptake and subsequent phosphorylation of deoxyglucose into perfused rat hearts was monitored by 31P n.m.r. 2. The accumulated deoxyglucose 6-phosphate provided (a) an independent method for measuring cytosolic pH in the normoxic and ischaemic heart tissue and (b) a way of studying the activity of phosphorylase during ischaemia. 3. The cytosolic pH measured from the 31P n.m.r. resonance position of deoxyglucose 6-phosphate is in good agreement under all conditions studied with that obtained previously from the Pi resonances. This eliminates any possible doubts about the use of Pi for measuring intracellular pH. 4. Deoxyglucose 6-phosphate in vitro inhibits phosphorylase b but not phosphorylase a. Its inhibitory effect on glycogenolysis during ischaemia is monitored by measuring tissue acidosis by n.m.r. In the initial stages of ischaemia phosphorylase activity is not inhibited, whereas after about 5 min approx. 50% of the activity is inhibited. These observations are interpreted in terms of the relative contributions of phosphorylase a and the AMP-dependent phosphorylase b activities during ischaemia.
TL;DR: It is proposed that the site for incorporation of methylamine in each subunit is a thiol ester, which in S-alpha 2M (the electrophoretically "slow" form) is sterically shielded from reaction with large nucleophiles, but is revealed as a highly reactive group, free from steric hindrance, after the proteolytic cleavage.
Abstract: It is shown that non-proteolytic proteins can become covalently linked to alpha 2M (alpha 2-macroglobulin) during its reaction with proteinases, and that this probably occurs by the mechanism that leads to the covalent linking of proteinases described previously [Salvesen & Barrett (1980) Biochem. J. 187, 695-701]. The covalent linking of trypsin was at least partly dependent on the presence of unblocked lysine side chains on the protein. The covalent linking of proteinases was inhibited by nucleophiles of low Mr, and these compounds were themselves linked to alpha 2M in a molar ratio approaching one per quarter subunit. Peptide "mapping" indicated that the site of proteinase-mediated incorporation of the amines was the same as that at which methylamine is incorporated in the absence of a proteinase. The nucleophile-reactive site revealed in alpha 2M after reaction with a proteinase was shown to decay with a t1/2 of 112 s, at pH 7.5. After the reaction with a proteinase or with methylamine, a free thiol group was detectable on each subunit of alpha 2M. We propose that the site for incorporation of methylamine in each subunit is a thiol ester, which in S-alpha 2M (the electrophoretically "slow" form) is sterically shielded from reaction with large nucleophiles, but is revealed as a highly reactive group, free from steric hindrance, after the proteolytic cleavage. We have designated the activated species of the molecule "alpha 2M".
TL;DR: The full sequence of the Thy-1 membrane glycoprotein of rat brain is reported and it is suggested that the hydrophobic properties of the C-terminal peptides may be due to the linkage of lipid.
Abstract: The full sequence of the Thy-1 membrane glycoprotein of rat brain is reported. The sequence was determined from tryptic and V-8 proteinase peptides and consisted of 111 amino acids. The amino terminus was blocked and consisted of a pyroglutamic acid residue. The molecule contained two disulphide bonds, namely Cys-9--Cys-111 and Cys-19--Cys-85. Three N-linked amino sugars were located at Asn-23, Asn-74 and Asn-98. In each case the sequence on the C-terminal side of the attachment point was Asn-Xaa-Thr as would be expected for N-linkage. The C-terminal peptides were unusual, in that they were either obtained in a highly aggregated form, or could only be purified after binding to Brij 96 micelles. Thus they appeared to have hydrophobic properties, yet did not contain any extended sequence of hydrophobic amino acids. Other unusual features of the C-terminal peptides were the presence of unidentified ninhydrin-positive material and of glucosamine and galactosamine. The C-terminal residue has not been directly identified but Cys-111 is the last conventional amino acid. It is suggested that the hydrophobic properties of the C-terminal peptides may be due to the linkage of lipid. The sequence of the Thy-1 glycoprotein showed homologies with immunoglobulin domains. This relationship is examined in detail in the paper following [Cohen et al. (1981) Biochem. J. 193, 000--000].
TL;DR: Three lectins have been isolated from an extract of mistletoe by affinity chromatography on partially hydrolysed Sepharose and human immunoglobulin- Separose and all three react with human erythrocytes without specificity for the A, B, and O blood groups.
Abstract: Three lectins have been isolated from an extract of mistletoe (Viscum album) by affinity chromatography on partially hydrolysed Sepharose and human immunoglobulin- Sepharose. The lectins differ in molecular weight and sugar specificity (lectin I, mol.wt. 11500, D-galactose-specific; lectin II, mol.wt. 60000, both D-galactose- and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-specific; lectin III, mol. wt. 50000, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-specific). All three lectins react with human erythrocytes without specificity for the A, B, and O blood groups. In contrast with abrin and ricin the mistletoe lectins cannot be divided into "toxins" and "haemagglutinins".
TL;DR: An inhibitor of collagenase of apparent mol.
Abstract: 1. An inhibitor of collagenase of apparent mol.wt. 28000 was isolated from term human amniotic fluid. 2. It is active against mammalian collagenases from a number of species and tissues as well as other mammalian metalloproteinases, but has no activity against bacterial metalloproteinases. 3. Activity is destroyed by treatment with either trypsin or 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate, by heat, and by reduction and carboxymethylation. 4. All the properties observed suggest that it is similar to the synthesized tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases.
TL;DR: Changes in the mean volume, the rate of fatty acid and acylglycerol glycerol synthesis, the activity of lipoprotein lipase and the numbers and affinities of insulin receptors of subcutaneous adipocytes are reported for sheep at different stages of pregnancy and lactation.
Abstract: 1 Changes in the mean volume, the rate of fatty acid and acylglycerol glycerol synthesis, the activity of lipoprotein lipase and the numbers and affinities of insulin receptors of subcutaneous adipocytes are reported for sheep at different stages of pregnancy and lactation In addition, the serum concentrations of insulin, progesterone, prolactin, choriomammotropin, somatotropin, glucose, acetate, L-lactate, glycerol and unesterified fatty acids are reported for these sheep 2 A switch from lipid accumulation to net lipid mobilization accompanied by a decline in the capacity for lipid synthesis, occurred at the onset of the last third of pregnancy Net lipid mobilization continued during lactation 3 The changes that occurred in the serum concentrations of the various hormones listed above are discussed in relation to their possible roles in the modulation of adipose tissue metabolism in sheep during pregnancy and lactation The observations are compared with those from previous studies on the hormonal control of adipose tissue metabolism in the rat during pregnancy and lactation
TL;DR: Flux through the tricarboxylic acid cycle was calculated from oxygen consumption in hearts perfused near the physiological work load and only the activities of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase correlated with calculated fluxes through the cycle.
Abstract: Flux through the tricarboxylic acid cycle was calculated from oxygen consumption in hearts perfused near the physiological work load. Activities of citrate synthase, 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase were measured in the same hearts. Only the activities of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase correlated with calculated fluxes through the cycle.