Inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation in Japanese black cattle with inherited platelet disorder, Chediak-Higashi syndrome

Aggregation properties of platelets were examined in Japanese Black cattle with Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) and normal control cattle. Platelet aggregation induced by collagen was decreased in platelets of the cattle with CHS, but not ADP (10-20 microM), thrombin (0.5-1.0 U/ml) and phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 3.2 microM). The aggregation response induced by collagen in CHS platelets lacks the change in shape which usually occurs in normal platelets. Simultaneous stimulation by collagen (10 micrograms/ml) + ADP (10 microM) is effective in restoring collagen-induced aggregating response in CHS platelet, although pretreatment of ADP (10 microM) could not restore the collagen (10 micrograms/ml)-induced aggregating response, suggesting that there is a certain threshold of stimulation intensity above which collagen-induced aggregation of CHS platelet can begin. Control normal platelets, previously exposed to ADP (10 microM) and collagen (10 micrograms/ml), showed no further response to exposure to a third aggregating agent (arachidonic acid, 5 mM). On the other hand, the final agent was able to elicit aggregating responses in CHS platelets, suggesting that the arachidonate aggregating system may be suppressed in CHS cattle, but fully activated in control animals. Furthermore, normal platelets showed a significant decrease in aggregating response to collagen when pretreated with a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10(-5) M), whereas CHS platelet was insensitive to indomethacin. This indomethacin-treated normal platelet mimicked the CHS collagen-induced aggregation pattern. These data suggest that a signal transduction process from receptor-operated events to arachidonate metabolism is suppressed in collagen-induced CHS platelet aggregation.

Cryocrystallography of 3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenase fromThermus thermophilusand its Chimeric Enzyme

The crystal structures of thermostable enzyme, 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase of Thermus thermophilus (10T) and a chimeric enzyme between T. thermophilus and Bacillus subtilus with one point mutation (cS82R), were determined at both 100 and 150 K. At the cryogenic condition, the volume of the unit cell decreased by 5% as a result of a contraction in the solvent region. Although the overall structures of both enzymes at low temperature were the same as that of 10T at room temperature, interactions between two domains and between two subunits in a functional dimer of cS82R were significantly altered. The decrease in the average temperature factor of 10T at low temperature and no significant decrease for cS82R suggested that the structure of the engineered enzyme (cS82R) may have many conformational substates even at low temperature, while the native enzyme (10T) at low temperature has a more definite conformation than that at room temperature. The location of water molecules around the enzyme molecule and the calculation of the radii of gyration suggested that cS82R had a weaker hydration than 10T.

A 718-kb DNA sequence of the Escherichia coli K-12 genome corresponding to the 12.7-28.0 min region on the linkage map

The 718,122 base pair sequence of the Escherichia coli K-12 genome corresponding to the region from 12.7 to 28.0 minutes on the genetic map is described. This region contains at least 681 potential open reading frames, of which 277 (41%) have been previously identified, 147 (22%) are homologous to other known genes, 139 (20%) are identical or similar to the hypothetical genes registered in databases, and the remaining 118 (17%) do not show a significant similarity to any other gene. In this region, we assigned a cluster of cit genes encoding multienzyme citrate lyase, two clusters of fimbrial genes and a set of lysogenic phage genes encoding integrase, excisionase and repressor in the e14 genetic element. In addition, a new valine tRNA gene, designated valZ, and a family of long directly repeated sequences, LDR-A, -B and -C, were found.

Potentiation of the intracellular Ca2+ response to arginine vasopressin by increased cytosolic-free Mg2+ in rat vascular smooth muscle cells

Although the inhibitory effects of extracellular Mg2+ on Ca2+ influx are well established, little is known about the effects of intracellular Mg2+ on Ca2+ handling. In the present study, the effects of cytosolic-free Mg2+ concentration in the physiological (submillimolar) range on Ca2+ handling were investigated after stimulation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells with arginine vasopressin. Cytosolic Mg2+ was manipulated by culturing cells in medium containing different Mg2+ concentrations. Peak cytosolic-free Ca2+ concentration responses to arginine vasopressin (1 mumol/1) were measured in the presence and absence of external Ca2+. The results suggest that an increase in cytosolic-free Mg2+ concentration increases both Ca2+ discharge from intracellular stores and Ca2+ influx, whereas a decrease in intracellular Mg2+ attenuates Ca2+ influx.

Pyrimidine biosynthesis genes (pyrE and pyrF) of an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus

We have isolated uracil auxotrophic mutants of an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus. A part of the pyrimidine biosynthetic operon including genes for orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (pyrE) and for orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase (pyrF) was cloned and sequenced. The pyrE gene can be a bidirectional marker for the gene manipulation system of the thermophile.

Effect of erythropoietin treatment on blood pressure and intracellular cation concentrations in maintenance hemodialysis patients

To assess the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) on the factors regulating blood pressure (BP), we determined the hemoglobin level (Hgb), blood viscosity (BV), plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma concentrations of aldosterone (PAC), adrenaline (Ad), noradrenaline (NAd), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and serum and intracellular concentrations of cations before and after 3 months of EPO treatment (40 units/kg/week of EPO intravenously after each hemodialysis session) in 11 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Intracellular sodium concentration ([Na+]i) was measured using erythrocytes with flame photometry. EPO treatment was associated with significant increases in Hgb (7.1 +/- 1.4 to 8.4 +/- 1.8 g/dl, p<0.01), mean BP (103 +/- 11.4 to 116 +/- 19.9 mmHg, p<0.01), [Na+]i (4.99 +/- 0.78 to 6.22 +/- 0.96 mmol/l, p<0.01) and BV (1.39 +/- 0.14 to 1.53 +/- 0.18 c.p., p<0.05), but no significant alteration in PRA, PAC, Ad, NAd, ANP, or in the serum concentration of Na+, K+, and Ca2+. The changes in mean BP (deltaMBP) were significantly correlated with delta[Na+]i (R=0.676, p=0.022) and deltaBV (R=0.668, p=0.034), but not with deltaHgb. By multiple regression analysis, delta[Na+]q and deltaBV independently contributed to deltaMBP; deltaMBP=2.27 X delta[Na+]i+32.2 X deltaBV +3.37 (R=0.695). These data suggest that intracellular sodium accumulation as well as increased blood viscosity may be independently involved in the blood pressure elevation after EPO treatment in patients under maintenance hemodialysis. We found no evidence supporting a role of circulating hormonal factors, such as the renin-angiotensin system, adrenaline, or ANP, in the change in blood pressure.

Platelet Ca2+ is not increased in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats: comparative study with spontaneously hypertensive rats

We have reported that cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) is increased in platelets from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in both basal and thrombin-stimulated conditions. To determine whether the correlation between blood pressure and cellular Ca2+ metabolism exists in stroke-prone SHR (SHRSP), we investigated Ca2+ handling using fura 2 and aggregation response in platelets of 12- to 13-week-old male SHRSP, SHR, and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Systolic pressure was highest in SHRSP and lowest in WKY (213 +/- 8, 172 +/- 7, and 135 +/- 5 mm Hg, respectively). Basal [Ca2+]i was significantly higher in SHR than WKY (45.9 +/- 4.5 versus 41.2 +/- 4.8 nmol/L, P<.05), and that in SHRSP (40.2 +/- 2.8 nmol/L) was similar to that in WKY. Thrombin (0.1 IU/mL)-stimulated [Ca2+]i rise was greater in SHR and smaller in SHRSP than in WKY in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ (530 +/- 50 and 408 +/- 52 versus 475 +/- 50 nmol/L, respectively; P<.05). The recovery rate from the peak [Ca2+]i response to thrombin was greatest in SHRSP and least in WKY. Ionomycin (5 micromol/L)-stimulated [Ca2+]i rise was similar in WKY, SHR, and SHRSP (731 +/- 97, 743 +/- 88, and 683 +/- 70 nmol/L, respectively). Thrombin-induced maximum platelet aggregation response was higher in SHR and lower in SHRSP than WKY (82 +/- 4 percent and 61 +/- 15 percent versus 73 +/- 6 percent, respectively; P<.05). In contrast to SHR, basal [Ca2+]i in SHRSP was similar to that in WKY, and thrombin-stimulated [Ca2+]i was attenuated. These result suggest that platelet Ca2+ handling differs between SHR substrains and that an increased [Ca2+]i is not obligatory in genetically hypertensive rats.

Subcellular distribution of protein kinase C in the living outer hair cell of the guinea pig cochlea

Immunohistochemical staining using isoform-specific antibodies and intracellular localization using fluorescent probes for protein kinase C (PKC) were evaluated in the cochlear outer hair cell (OHC). Among three isoforms of classic PKC, PKC alpha was selectively stained in the fixed OHC as well as inner hair cells under a surface preparation method. Two types of fluorescent probes to detect subcellular localization of PKC were observed with a confocal laser scanning microscopy in the present study, fim-1 diacetate which binds to the ATP-competitive catalytic domain of PKC and Bodipy FL C12-phorbol acetate which binds to specific site localized to the first cysteine-rich loop of the C1 region in the regulatory domain. High fluorescence intensity of both dyes was observed in subcuticular and subsynaptic regions, infracuticular network, and along the lateral wall. The displacement experiments to evaluate binding specificity were performed by incubating Bodipy FL C12-phorbol acetate in the presence of 10 microM phorbol 12-myritate 13-acetate (PMA) and the fluorescence was totally disappeared. For the acute treatment of phorbol ester, cells were preincubated with 1 microM PMA 30 min before loading with fim-1 diacetate. The brightest area in the plasma membrane became much larger as compared with untreated cells, which suggests a dramatic translocation of PKC to the plasma membrane. The biological functions involving PKC in the OHC are discussed.

Conversion of the coenzyme specificity of isocitrate dehydrogenase by module replacement

The coenzyme specificity of isocitrate dehydrogenase from an extreme thermophilic bacterium was converted from NADP-dependent to NAD-dependent by replacing a "module" involved in the coenzyme binding site. The conversion was not possible with the replacement of a few residues that interact with the coenzyme. In addition, the module-replaced mutant dehydrogenase was as stable as the original, wild type enzyme. The results support a previous hypothesis that a module is a structural and functional unit of a protein.

The Na-K-Cl cotransporters in the rat cochlea: RT-PCR and partial sequence analysis

Nonsensory epithelial cells of the mammalian cochlea contribute to the production of the endolymph. The presence as well as the function of the Na-K-Cl cotransporter has been suggested, but not yet been proved. To identify the Na-K-Cl cotransporter isoforms expressed in the cochlea, mRNA was extracted from the cochlear lateral wall. After reverse transcription, resulting cDNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers specific for Na-K-Cl cotransporter isoforms. In the rat cochlear lateral wall, mRNA homologous to the mouse bumetanide-sensitive Na-K-Cl cotransporter (mBSC2) was detected. These results suggest that the basolateral localization of the cotransporter in the marginal cell is involved in the secretory process of the endolymph.

A stable intermediate in the thermal unfolding process of a chimeric 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase between a thermophilic and a mesophilic enzymes

The thermal unfolding process of a chimeric 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase made of parts from an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus, and a mesophile, Bacillus subtilis, enzymes was studied by CD spectrophotometry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The enzyme is a homodimer with a subunit containing two structural domains. The DSC melting profile of the chimeric enzyme in 20 mM NaHCO3, pH 10.4, showed two endothermic peaks, whereas that of the T. thermophilus wild-type enzyme had one peak. The CD melting profiles of the chimeric enzyme under the same conditions as the DSC measurement, also indicated biphasic unfolding transition. Concentration dependence of the unfolding profile revealed that the first phase was protein concentration-independent, whereas the second transition was protein concentration-dependent. When cooled after the first transition, the intermediate was isolated, which showed only the second transition upon heating. These results indicated the existence of a stable dimeric intermediate followed by the further unfolding and dissociation in the thermal unfolding of the chimeric enzyme at pH 10-11. Because the portion derived from the mesophilic isopropylmalate dehydrogenase in the chimeric enzyme is located in the hinge region between two domains of the enzyme, it is probably responsible for weakening of the interdomain interaction and causing the decooperativity of two domains. The dimeric form of the intermediate suggested that the first unfolding transition corresponds to the unfolding of domain 1 containing the N- and C-termini of the enzyme, and the second to that of domain 2 containing the subunit interface.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and salt sensitivity in essential hypertension

We undertook the present study in 66 Japanese patients with essential hypertension to identify genetic factors associated with salt sensitivity. Patients were classified into salt-sensitive or salt-resistant groups on the basis of changes in their mean blood pressures from a week of a low salt diet (50 mmol/d) to a week of a high salt diet (340 mmol/d). Salt sensitivity and resistance were studied in relation to a 287-bp insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene detected by a polymerase chain reaction method and the haptoglobin phenotype determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Patients with the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene genotype II were more apt to be salt sensitive than patients with the ID and DD genotypes, although plasma renin activity was similar in each group. The frequency of the I allele in the salt-sensitive group was significantly higher than that in the salt-resistant group (chi2 = 7.4, odds ratio = 2.78). However, there was no significant relationship between haptoglobin phenotype and salt sensitivity. These data suggest that an I/D polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene is a genetic factor associated with salt sensitivity of blood pressure independently of plasma renin activity in Japanese patients with essential hypertension.

Renal response to L-arginine in salt-sensitive patients with essential hypertension

This study examined whether disturbances in nitric oxide formation contribute to renal dysfunction in salt-sensitive essential hypertensive patients. We evaluated the effects of intravenous administration of L-arginine (500 mg/kg given over 30 minutes) on systemic and renal hemodynamics in 23 patients with mild essential hypertension during 1 week of a low NaCl diet (50 mmol/d) followed by 1 week of a high NaCl diet (340 mmol/d). Patients were classified as salt sensitive (n=10) or salt resistant (n=13) based on salt-induced changes in their blood pressures. Salt loading increased renal vascular resistance but not renal plasma flow in salt-sensitive patients. The L-arginine-induced renovascular relaxation was significantly reduced by a high NaCl diet (renal vascular resistance: low NaCl -12.4 +/- 2.3% versus high NaCl -7.1 +/- 1.8%, P < .001) in salt-sensitive patients, whereas it was unchanged in salt-resistant patients. The increase in plasma cGMP in response to L-arginine was also reduced by a high NaCl diet in the salt-sensitive patients (low NaCl 49 +/- 7% versus high NaCl 36 +/- 8%, P < .05) but not in the salt-resistant patients (low NaCl 51 +/- 6% versus high NaCl 58 +/- 6%). These findings suggest that NaCl loading in salt-sensitive patients with mild essential hypertension reduces the ability of L-arginine to produce nitric oxide in the endothelium of the renal vasculature.

Further stabilization of 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase of an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus, by a suppressor mutation method

We succeeded in further improvement of the stability of 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (IPMDH) from an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus, by a suppressor mutation method. We previously constructed a chimeric IPMDH consisting of portions of thermophile and mesophile enzymes. The chimeric enzyme is less thermostable than the thermophile enzyme. The gene encoding the chimeric enzyme was subjected to random mutagenesis and integrated into the genome of a leuB-deficient mutant of T. thermophilus. The transformants were screened at 76 degrees C in minimum medium, and three independent stabilized mutants were obtained. The leuB genes from these three mutants were cloned and analyzed. The sequence analyses revealed Ala-172-->Val substitution in all of the mutants. The thermal stability of the thermophile IPMDH was improved by introducing the amino acid substitution.

Structure of a loop-deleted variant of 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase from Thermus thermophilus: an internal reprieve tolerance mechanism

A loop-deleted mutant form of 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase from Thermus thermophilus was constructed to investigate the relationship between the flexibility of the structure and the thermostability of the enzyme. The structure of the mutant enzyme was determined by X-ray crystallography and was found to be almost the same as that of the native enzyme with a reduced temperature factor. Although the mutant protein had lost the flexible loop, its function and thermostability had remained unchanged. This phenomenon can be explained by an internal reprieve tolerance mechanism.

Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss associated with the point mutation in mitochondrial genome

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation associated with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has previously been described in MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) and in aminoglycoside-induced deafness. The authors of this study report three cases of SNHL associated with mtDNA mutation (3243A-->G). They examined the clinical features of this type of SNHL by audiologic studies and examined the mtDNA mutation by the polymerase chain reaction technique. In the three cases described, the SNHL had an adult onset and was bilateral and symmetrical. All patients had adult-onset diabetes mellitus. Audiologic studies revealed that the SNHL in all patients derived from the cochlea rather than from retrocochlear sites. It is presumed that mtDNA mutation results in mitochondrial dysfunction in cochlear tissues (i.e., hair cells and stria vascularis) and in neurons of the auditory pathway. Genetic analysis of mtDNA offers new insight into the diagnosis and treatment of SNHL.

Cross-reactive idiotypes on rabbit anti-SEA antibodies stimulate anti-idiotype spleen and lymph node cell responses of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

Antibodies to Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigens (SEA) generated in outbred rabbits from two different sources were used to study cross-reactive idiotype/anti-idiotype (Id/anti-Id) interactions in S. mansoni-infected mice in two different locations. Immunoaffinity purified rabbit polyclonal anti-SEA antibody preparations (RabId) were predominantly Ig by SDS-PAGE and demonstrated anti-SEA activity by ELISA and Western blot. RabId prepared from three separate rabbits and used at 40 micrograms/ml in vitro stimulated lymphocyte proliferative responses of spleen cells from mice with eight week infections (Mean +/- SEM [E-C]) of 3869 +/- 764, 18594 +/- 3046 and 8962 +/- 1734 cpm. Spleen cells from uninfected mice exposed to the same RabId preparations in vitro had respective [E-C] values of 206 +/- 144, 494 +/- 154 and 363 +/- 180. Lymph node cells from mice infected for 8 weeks demonstrated [E-C] of 123 +/- 400, 5073 +/- 828 and 2361 +/- 656 upon exposure to these 3 RabId preparations. Lymph node cells from uninfected mice had [E-C] of 220 +/- 76, 194 +/- 82 and 143 +/- 72 when exposed to these RabId. Maximum in vitro proliferative response to Ig from unimmunized rabbits was 761 +/- 400 by spleen cells from mice with eight week infections. These data indicate the presence of cross-reactive Id on rabbit anti-SEA antibodies from different rabbits that can stimulate in vitro lymphoproliferative responses of spleen or lymph node cells from S. mansoni-infected mice.

An aspartate aminotransferase from an extremely thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus HB8

The aspartate aminotransferase gene (AspAT, EC 2.6.1.1) of an extremely thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus HB8, was cloned and sequenced, and its gene product was overproduced. The purified T. thermophilus AspAT was stable up to about 80 degrees C at neutral pH. T. thermophilus AspAT was strictly specific for acidic amino acid substrates, such as aspartate, glutamate, and the respective keto acids. The gene coding for T. thermophilus AspAT showed that it comprised 1,155 bp with a high G+C content (70 mol%), and encoded a 385-residue protein with a molecular weight of 42,050. The amino acid sequence of T. thermophilus AspAT deduced from its gene showed about 15, 46, and 29% homology with those from Escherichia coli, Bacillus sp. YM-2, and Sulfolobus solfataricus, respectively. When the amino acid sequence of T. thermophilus AspAT was compared with that of E. coli AspAT, the number of Cys was found to have decreased from 5 to 1, that of Asn from 23 to 9, that of Gln from 16 to 8, and that of Asp from 20 to 13, all of which are known to be relatively labile at high temperatures. Conversely, the number of Pro was increased from 15 to 25, Arg from 22 to 32, and Glu 27 to 37. As shown by the E. coli AspAT structure, there was a marked tendency for the extra prolyl residues to be located around the surface of the molecule. This was quite different from that in the case of RecA protein, which shows an increased number of prolyl residues in the interior of its molecule. Different strategies of different proteins as to prolyl contribution to thermostability have been suggested. Despite the high degree of conservation of active-site residues, Arg292 in E. coli AspAT, which interacts with the distal carboxylate of the substrate, was not found in T. thermophilus AspAT. Arg89 may complement the function of Arg292.

Prevalence of neurological disorders in a Japanese town

The prevalence of all neurological disorders in a Japanese town was calculated, with a result of 91.1 per 1,000 population. The prevalence of cerebrovascular disease was 28.8; myelopathy and/or radiculopathy caused by deformity of the spine or disc herniation, 23.9; neuralgia, 11.5; dementia, 10.4; peripheral nerve disturbance, 5.5; epilepsy, 4.4; Parkinson's disease, 2.0; mental retardation, 2.9; brain/spinal tumor, 1.4; headache, 10.8, and vertigo/dizziness, 4.4. The prevalence of headache and vertigo/dizziness was also calculated from the results of the questionnaires sent to inhabitants: headache, 79.6, and vertigo/dizziness, 60.8. Neurological disorders are common in Japan and likely to continue to increase.

A leader open reading frame is essential for the expression in Escherichia coli of GC-rich leuB gene of an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus

To improve expression efficiency of the leuB gene of an extreme thermophile. Thermus thermophilus, in Escherichia coli, the gene was placed under a potent promoter, tac. However, the expression was hardly improved, despite increased transcription. The expression under tac promoter was significantly improved by introducing a leader open reading frame in front of the gene. Similar improvement under a weak promoter, tet, with a leader open reading frame had been described previously. The present results provide evidence that the major limiting step in the expression of a GC-rich thermophile gene in E. coli is translation, and that the addition of a leader open reading frame is more crucial for high level expression of the gene than the use of a potent promoter.

Cardioscopic spectrum of the left ventricular endocardial surface and its relation to histologic changes in idiopathic myocarditis

To examine feasibility of percutaneous cardioscopy for diagnosis of idiopathic myocarditis, cardioscopic appearance of the left ventricle and biopsy findings were compared in 21 such patients. The endocardial surface was milky white, red, pink, or reddish brown and edematous at the segments that exhibited histologic changes of acute myocarditis; purplish red in those that exhibited chronic active myocarditis; and yellow in those that exhibited chronic inactive or healed myocarditis. Follow-up study by repeated cardioscopy and biopsy in six patients revealed that the milky white surface disappeared and that the red, pink, and reddish brown surfaces changed to purplish red and then to yellow or white. The results indicate that the endocardial coloration of the left ventricle represents histologic changes and that cardioscopy is feasible for macroscopic pathologic diagnosis and for follow-up of idiopathic myocarditis.

Resolution of the aerobic respiratory system of the thermoacidophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus sp. strain 7. II. Characterization of the archaeal terminal oxidase subcomplexes and implication for the intramolecular electron transfer

The terminal segment of the aerobic respiratory chain of the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus sp. strain 7 is an unusual caldariellaquinol oxidase supercomplex, which contains at least one b-type and three spectroscopically distinguishable a-type cytochromes, one copper, and a Rieske-type FeS center. In this paper, we report the purification and characterization of two different forms of the archaeal a-type cytochromes, namely, a three-subunit cytochrome a583-aa3 subcomplex and a single-subunit cytochrome aa3 derived from the cytochrome subcomplex, in order to facilitate further studies on the terminal oxidase segment of Sulfolobus. The optical and EPR spectroscopic analyses suggest the presence of two different low-spin heme centers and one high-spin heme center in the purified cytochrome a583-aa3 subcomplex, and one low-spin and one high-spin hemes in cytochrome aa3, respectively. The Rieske-type FeS center detected in the purified cytochrome supercomplex was absent in two forms of the a-type cytochrome oxidase, indicating its association with cytochrome b562. The crystal field parameters of the lowspin heme a583 center indicate that its axial ligands may be similar to those of cytochromes c, rather than conventional bis-histidine ligation. In spite of the absence of any c-type cytochrome, a ferrocytochrome c oxidase activity was detected in the archaeal purified cytochrome a583-aa3 subcomplex with no quinol oxidase activity, but not in the purified cytochrome oxidase supercomplex, which has been tentatively interpreted as a representative of electron transfer from the Rieske FeS center to cytochrome a583 in vivo. Thus, our results indicate the following scheme for the intramolecular electron transfer of the terminal oxidase supercomplex from Sulfolobus sp. strain 7: [caldariellaquinol-->] b562-->Rieske FeS center-->a583 aa3-->molecular oxygen.

Resolution of the aerobic respiratory system of the thermoacidophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus sp. strain 7. III. The archaeal novel respiratory complex II (succinate:caldariellaquinone oxidoreductase complex) inherently lacks heme group

An active respiratory complex II (succinate:quinone oxidoreductase) has been purified from tetraether lipid membranes of the thermoacidophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus sp. strain 7. It consists of four different subunits with apparent molecular masses of 66, 37, 33, and 12 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The 66-kDa subunit contains a covalently bound flavin, the 37-kDa subunit is a possible iron-sulfur protein carrying three distinct types of EPR-visible FeS cluster, and the 33- and 12-kDa subunits are putative membrane-anchor subunits, respectively. While no heme group is detected in the purified complex II, it catalyzes succinate-dependent reduction of ubiquinone-1 and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol in the absence of phenazine methosulfate. The respiratory complex II of Sulfolobus sp. strain 7 appears to be novel in that it functions as a true succinate:caldariellaquinone oxidoreductase, although inherently lacking any heme group. This further indicates that the heme group of several respiratory complexes II may not be involved in the redox intermediates of the electron transfer from succinate to quinone.

Resolution of the aerobic respiratory system of the thermoacidophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus sp. strain 7. I. The archaeal terminal oxidase supercomplex is a functional fusion of respiratory complexes III and IV with no c-type cytochromes

The aerobic respiratory system of the thermoacidophilic archaeon, Sulfolobus sp. strain 7, is unusual in that it consists of only a- and b-type cytochromes but no c-type cytochromes. In previous studies, a novel cytochrome oxidase a583-aa3 subcomplex has been purified, which showed a ferrocytochrome c oxidase but no caldariellaquinol oxidase activity (Wakagi, T., Yamauchi, T., Oshima, T., Müller, M., Azzi, A., and Sone, N. (1989) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 165, 1110-1114). We show here that the cytochrome subcomplex could be copurified with a non-CO-reactive cytochrome b562 as a novel terminal oxidase "supercomplex," which also contained a Rieske-type FeS cluster at gy = 1.89. It contained one copper and all four heme centers detectable in the archaeal membranes by the low temperature spectrophotometry and the potentiometric titration: cytochromes b562 (+146 mV), a583 (+270 mV), and aa3 (+117 and +325 mV). The presence of one copper atom indicates that it contains the conventional heme a3-CuB binuclear center for reducing molecular oxygen. In conjunction with the presence of a Rieske-type FeS center, inhibitor studies suggest that the terminal oxidase segment of the respiratory chain of Sulfolobus sp. strain 7 is a functional fusion of respiratory complexes III and IV, where cytochrome b562 and the Rieske-type FeS center probably play a central role in the oxidation of caldariellaquinol. This archaeal terminal oxidase supercomplex reconstitutes the in vitro succinate oxidase respiratory chain for the first time together with caldariellaquinone and the purified cognate succinate:caldariellaquinone oxidoreductase complex. The reconstitution system requires caldariellaquinone for the activity, and is highly sensitive to cyanide and 2-heptyl-4-hydroxy-quinoline-N-oxide. These results are also discussed in terms of the evolutionary considerations.