Volatile components in stored rice [Oryza sativa (L.)] of varieties with and without lipoxygenase-3 in seeds

Lipoxygenase (LOX) is thought to play an important role in the formation of desirable or undesirable flavor and aroma in many plant products. In rice seeds, LOX activity is localized in the bran fraction and LOX-3 is the major isozyme component. We used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine whether the degree of staleness in the flavor of stored brown rice was related to the presence of LOX-3. We found that the amount of hexanal, pentanal, and pentanol in normal raw LOX-3 rice markedly increased during storage at 35 degrees C. That in LOX-3-less rice increased slightly but was a third to a fifth that of normal LOX-3 rice. In cooked rice, the amount of these components from glutinous rice exceeded that in nonglutinous rice, and that in normal LOX-3 rice exceeded that in LOX-3-less rice. These results indicate that the stale flavor production in LOX-3-less rice during storage is less than that in normal LOX-3 rice.

Antisense-mediated depletion of a potato lipoxygenase reduces wound induction of proteinase inhibitors and increases weight gain of insect pests

De novo jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis is required for wound-induced expression of proteinase inhibitors and other defense genes in potato and tomato. The first step in JA biosynthesis involves lipoxygenase (LOX) introducing molecular oxygen at the C-13 position of linolenic acid. We previously have shown that, in potato, at least two gene families code for 13-LOX proteins. We have now produced transgenic potato plants devoid of one specific 13-LOX isoform (LOX-H3) through antisense-mediated depletion of its mRNA. LOX-H3 depletion largely abolishes accumulation of proteinase inhibitors on wounding, indicating that this specific LOX plays an instrumental role in the regulation of wound-induced gene expression. As a consequence, weight gain of Colorado potato beetles fed on antisense plants is significantly larger than those fed on wild-type plants. The poorer performance of LOX-H3-deficient plants toward herbivory is more evident with a polyphagous insect; larvae of beet armyworm reared on the antisense lines have up to 57% higher weight than those fed on nontransformed plants. LOX-H3 thus appears to regulate gene activation in response to pest attack, and this inducible response is likely to be a major determinant for reducing performance of nonspecialized herbivores. However, the regulatory role of LOX-H3 is not caused by its involvement in the wound-induced increase of JA, as wild-type and LOX-H3 deficient plants have similar jasmonate levels after wounding. LOX-H3-deficient plants have higher tuber yields. The apparent effect of suppressing the inducible defensive response on plant vigor suggests that it may pose a penalty in plant fitness under nonstress situations.

An immunoreactive protein to wheat-germ agglutinin antibody is induced in oat roots following invasion of the cereal cyst nematode Heterodera avenae, and by jasmonate

A protein that cross-reacts to a wheat-germ agglutinin antibody was induced in oat roots following the invasion of second-stage juveniles (J2) of the cereal cyst nematode Heterodera avenae. This protein, designated ASP45, was acid soluble, and its molecular mass was about 45 kDa on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. ASP45 was induced in both compatible and incompatible interactions between the nematode and the plant, and also in roots by exposure to jasmonic acid (JA) or methyl jasmonate. However, ASP45 was not induced by elicitors of pathogenesis-related proteins, abscisic acid, or wounding. Lipoxygenase activity, which is involved in JA synthesis, was higher in nematode-infected and JA-treated roots than in their noninfected, untreated counterparts. Inhibition of lipoxygenase activity in roots abolished ASP45 induction in the nematode-infected roots. Amino acid sequences similar to that of ASP45 were found in chitinases of poplar tree and Arabidopsis, even though ASP45 showed no chitinase activity. Although the biological role of ASP45 in infected roots is not clear, JA is suggested to be involved in signal transduction after pathogen invasion of the plant.

A specific assay for discriminating between peroxidase and lipoxygenase activities

Peroxidases are widespread heme-containing enzymes able to catalyze the oxidation of a large array of organic substrates. There is growing interest in the measurements of peroxidase activity. We noticed that many substrates used in the routine assays for the biological and cytological determinations of peroxidase could be oxidized by lipoxygenase. We found interesting to set up a procedure to detect selectively peroxidase. In the present note, we report a fluorometric test for peroxidase detection using phenolic compounds or hydroxycoumarins.

Quality indices of Jew's mallow and spinach during frozen storage

In this study, Jew's mallow and spinach were heat treated and kept frozen, at -18 degrees C, for 3 months. Analysis of some chemical components and enzymatic activities as well as a sensory evaluation were undertaken. At the end of the storage period, blanched spinach showed no PPO (polyphenyloxidase) activity at all, but still contained PO (peroxydase) and LO (lipoxygenase) activities. The untreated spinach stored under the same conditions showed high activities of PO, PPO and LO. The heat treated mallow still contained high enzyme activities which decreased slowly during frozen storage. Statistical analysis of the chemical composition and the sensory evaluation results indicated that heat treatments of mallow caused significant differences in total solids, pH, chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll, while frozen storage, of samples of the same treatment for 3 months caused no significant differences in moisture, ash, oxalic acid, pH, chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll. No significant differences could be noticed in the overall acceptability between mallow samples mixed with hot water and those mixed with a hot 0.1% MgCO3 solution. Significant differences were found between the heat treated and the untreated mallow. Changes of the chemical composition and the overall acceptability of blanched spinach during frozen storage showed almost the same trend noticed for the Jew's mallow.

Long-term elevation of cyclooxygenase-2, but not lipoxygenase, in regions synaptically distant from spreading depression

Eicosanoids, produced from arachidonic acid by cyclooxygenases (COXs) and lipoxygenases (LIPOXs), are involved in numerous brain processes. To explore if brief and noninjurious stimuli chronically alter expression of these enzymes, we examined the induction of COX-2 and LIPOX expression following unilateral neocortical spreading depression (SD). Expression was examined over time and in regions not experiencing SD (hippocampus) but synaptically connected to the site of stimulation (cortex). One hundred six male Wistar rats had SD induced via microinjection of 0.5 M KCl (0.5 M NaCl for sham) into left parietal cortex every 9 minutes for 1 or 3 hours. One hour before SD some animals received dexamethasone (Dex), mepacrine (Mep), indomethacin (Indo), nordihydroguaiaretic acid (Ndga), phenylephrine (Pe), sodium nitroprusside (Snp) with Pe, or N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (Lnam). Animals survived for 0, 3, or 6 hours, or 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, or 28 days. Brains were processed immunohistochemically for COX-2 and LIPOX, and the optical density (OD) of the left and right cortex, dentate gyrus (DG), CA3, and CA1 immunoreactivity (IR) were measured. Induction was expressed as the log of left divided by right side OD for each region. COX-2 IR in the left cortex was elevated rapidly and was sustained for 21 days following SD. COX-2 IR was also elevated in the ipsilateral hippocampus not experiencing SD, with the rank order of induction as follows: DG > CA3 > CA1. Dex, Snp, and/or Pe significantly reduced the induction of COX-2. No changes in LIPOX IR were observed. These results show that long-term changes in COX-2 expression are induced by SD and these changes decrease with synaptic distance. Benign stimuli increase COX-2 expression and thus may influence brain function for extended periods and at distant locations.

Arachidonate metabolism in human placenta, fetal membranes, decidua and myometrium: lipoxygenase and cytochrome P450 metabolites as main products in HPLC profiles

Eicosanoids play a key role in pregnancy maintenance and parturition. We investigated the metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) in short-term tissue cultures of placenta, fetal membranes, decidua and myometrium. Tissues were obtained from caesarean sections before the onset of labour after uncomplicated pregnancies. The released metabolites were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and specific immunoassays. In radiotracer experiments tissues were labelled with [3H]-AA and metabolites released after incubation with calcium ionophore A23187 were profiled by HPLC. Decidua was more active in metabolizing AA (turnover 34 per cent) than myometrium (28 per cent), placenta (21 per cent) and fetal membranes (17 per cent). Main product in placenta, decidua and myometrium was 12-hydroxyeicosatetraeinoic (12-HETE) (decidua: 19 per cent of released radioactivity, myometrium 14 per cent, placenta 7 per cent). Fetal membranes formed 5-HETE as main product. Another major metabolite in placenta, fetal membranes and decidua was characterized by HPLC as 5(6)-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid. Only myometrium released appreciable amounts of prostaglandins in form of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha. In non-radioactive experiments formation of eicosanoids from endogenous AA was investigated by HPLC (fluorescence- and UV-detection) and immunoassays. These experiments confirmed the high production of 12-HETE and the low formation of prostaglandins. Our results suggest that the biological role of AA-metabolites, other than prostaglandins, have as yet been underestimated.

Photosynthetic photon flux, photoperiod, and temperature effects on emissions of (Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenol, and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate from lettuce

To investigate the effects of environment on plant volatile emissions, 'Waldmann's Green' leaf lettuce was cultivated under different levels of photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), photoperiod, and temperature. A modified growth chamber was used to sample plant volatile emissions nondestructively, over time, and under controlled conditions. Total volatile emission rates were significantly higher from lettuce cultivated under PPF of 360 or 200 micromoles m-2 s-1 compared to 105 micromoles m-2 s-1, and significantly higher under a 16-h photoperiod than an 8-h photoperiod. No differences were detected among emission rates from different temperature treatments. In controlled environments, emissions could be regulated by adjusting environmental conditions accordingly.

Visible spectrophotometric assay, purification, and molecular properties of a lipoxygenase from eggplant (Solanum melongena Linne) fruits

We purified a lipoxygenase to homogeneity from eggplant (Solanum melongena Linne) fruits employing the established visible spectrophotometric assay, in which the products of the lipoxygenase-catalyzed reaction, hydroperoxyfatty acids, oxidizes 2,2'-azino-di-[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-(6)-sulfonic acid] diammonium salt in the presence of a catalyst cytochrome c to yield chromophores in the visible region. This allowed for the rapid detection of the lipoxygenase activity and was helpful in accomplishing the efficient purification of the lipoxygenase. The purified lipoxygenase was a monomeric enzyme with a molecular weight of 95,000, s20,w of 5.3 S, and an isoelectric point of 4.4. The specific activity and Km value for the linoleate oxygenation were 7.8 mumol min-1 mg-1 and 0.8 mM, respectively, at 25 degrees C and pH 7.0. The enzyme contained 1.3 g-atom of nonheme iron per enzyme.

Variation of iron, copper, free fatty acid content and lipoxygenase activity in peanut kernels subjected to various pretreatments and roasting

Peanut kernels subjected to pretreatment including rehydration, blanching and dehydration, and untreated kernels were roasted at 160 degrees C for times ranging from 0 to 90 min. For both peanuts, the iron content in oil and specific lipoxygenase activity in defatted peanut flour decreased, free fatty acid content increased and copper content changed insignificantly with roasting time. Changes of iron content, lipoxygenase activity and free fatty acid content were more significant in untreated peanuts than in pretreated peanuts. At each roasting time, iron, copper and free fatty acid contents in the oils and lipoxygenase activities in the defatted flours prepared from untreated peanuts were higher than in the oils and flours prepared from pretreated peanuts.

Analysis of lipoxygenase kinetics by high-performance liquid chromatography with a polymer column

Soybean lipoxygenase (LOX; EC 1.12.11.12) catalyzes the oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, acylglycerols and phosphoglycerols, producing a regio- and enantiospecific hydroperoxide product. The goal of this work was to measure the relative rate of LOX-catalyzed oxidation of mixtures of lipids containing linoleate, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a light-scattering detector (LSD). Previous literature suggested that reversed-phase HPLC with silica-based columns could be used for the separation of individual fatty acids, acylglycerols, phosphoglycerides and their oxidation products. However, these columns produced ineffective separations of phosphoglycerides unless choline chloride and a strong base, such as KOH, are present in the mobile phase. Such modifiers precluded the use of the LSD. It was found that a reversed-phase column based upon an organic polymer support, rather than on silica, was able to separate these mixtures with a ternary solvent gradient of methanol/water/acetonitrile without the need for the addition of modifiers. The oxidation time course of a mixture of linoleic acid, trilinolein and 1-linoleoyl-2-stearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine was followed using the developed HPLC method. The results showed that trilinolein and phosphatidylcholine reacted at one-tenth the rate of linoleic acid. The diacylglycerol, 1,3-dilinolein, was oxidized at a rate that was approximately 40% that of linoleic acid, with the formation of mono- and dihydroperoxides as well as other unidentified products.

An octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether-based mixed micellar assay for lipoxygenase acting at neutral pH

Using the detergent octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether (C12E8), a spectrophotometric mixed micellar assay for lipoxygenas (LOX) activity was designed. Potato LOX was able to use the linoleic acid (LA) solubilized in C12E8 micelles, displaying the characteristic induction period of LOX-catalyzed LA peroxidation. In the mixed micellar system, LOX responds to the LA surface concentration expressed as mol% (=[lipid]*100/([detergent]-cmc)) and not to the molarity of the LA. For both potato and soybean LOX, Vmax was independent of the mixed micelle concentration, while Km was independent as well when expressed as mol% but was dependent on C12E8 concentration when expressed in molar. In mixed micelles, H2O2 shortened the induction period, while 13-hydroperoxylinoleic acid and t-butyl hydroperoxide completely removed it. C12E8/LA proved to be a reliable system for assaying LOX activity at pH values around neutrality. Like Tween 20, this system avoided the turbidity problems arising from the protonated fatty acid and did not interfere with the uv-absorption band of the hydroperoxide product. However, this system is superior to the commonly used Tween 20 because it permits investigation of the lipid requirements of LOX since the concentration-independent Km can be determined both in mol% and as the absolute number of lipids per micelle. In addition, the detergent did not affect the enzyme through any side effects.

Synthesis of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid by human endometrium and decidua

In order to clarify the possible involvement of lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) in implantation, monohydroxylic acid production was examined using human endometrium and decidua in early pregnancy. As 14C-AA was mainly converted to 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) as well as prostaglandins (PGs) by the microsomal fraction of the endometrium, a subsequent study was carried out on the endometrium (at various stages) and decidua in early pregnancy using tissue incubation and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis for 12-HETE. The amounts of 12-HETE released into the culture medium by proliferative and secretory endometrium were 165.1 +/- 123.4 (ng/mg.protein/24 h, mean +/- SD) and 502.3 +/- 127.2, respectively, whereas, decidua produced a smaller amount of 12-HETE that declined as gestation progressed. This lipoxygenase product as well as PGs might have a role in implantation.

Inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-caused tumor promotion in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-initiated SENCAR mouse skin by a polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea

Our laboratory has been studying cancer chemopreventive effects of polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea (GTP). In prior studies we have shown that (a) GTP possesses antigenotoxic effects in various test systems; (b) topical application of GTP protects against UV radiation and chemical carcinogen-induced tumorigenesis in murine skin; and (c) feeding of GTP in drinking water p.o. to mice protects against carcinogen-induced forestomach and lung tumorigenesis. Recently, we showed that in a dose-dependent manner GTP inhibits tumor promoter-caused induction of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity in SENCAR mice (R. Agarwal et al., Cancer Res., 52: 3582-3588, 1992). In the present study, we assessed the effect of GTP on TPA-induced skin tumor promotion in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-initiated SENCAR mouse. Topical application of varying doses of GTP (1-24 mg) 30 min prior to that of each TPA application resulted in highly significant protection against skin tumor promotion in a dose-dependent manner. The animals pretreated with GTP showed substantially lower tumor body burden such as decrease in total number of tumors per group, number of tumors per animal, tumor volume per mouse, and average volume per tumor, as compared to the animals that did not receive GTP. Since TPA-induced epidermal cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activities and edema and hyperplasia are conventionally used markers of skin tumor promotion, we also assessed the effect of preapplication of GTP on these parameters. As quantitated by the formation of prostaglandin and hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid metabolites from, respectively, cyclooxygenase- and lipoxygenase-catalyzed metabolism of arachidonic acid, skin application of GTP to SENCAR mice resulted in significant inhibition of TPA-caused effects on these 2 enzymes. Prior application of GTP to mouse skin also resulted in 30-46% inhibition of TPA-induced epidermal edema and hyperplasia. The results of the present study suggest that GTP possesses anti-skin tumor-promoting effects, and that the mechanism of such effects may involve inhibition of tumor promoter-induced epidermal ornithine decarboxylase, cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activities, edema, and hyperplasia. Further studies are in progress to define which component present in GTP is responsible for its anti-skin tumor-promoting effects.

Screening soybean (grain and vegetable) genotypes for nutrients and anti-nutritional factors

Fifty six genotypes of grain-type soybean and 17 genotypes of vegetable-type soybean collections were analyzed for protein and oil content, trypsin inhibitor, and lipoxygenase activities. The protein and oil content ranged from 36.9 to 47.9% and from 13.3 to 23.0% for different accessions in grain- and vegetable-type soybeans, respectively. Trypsin inhibitor and lipoxygenase activities ranged from 22.0 to 47.0 trypsin inhibitor units/mg meal and from 482 to 6265 lipoxygenase units/min/mg meal for grain- and vegetable-type soybeans, respectively. Significant correlations (r = -0.62 and -0.52, P less than 0.05) were found between protein and oil, and between protein and trypsin inhibitor. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.42, P less than 0.05) was also calculated for oil and lipoxygenase activity. Several genotypes of soybean and vegetable soybean (plant introductions 423905, 417330, 417223, 171451, 200506, 200523, 417124, 227687, 203402, 445842, 203399, 423852, 416771, FC 31927, Avoyelles, and Sooty) showed good nutritional potential and may be useful in a breeding program to improve the nutritional quality of soybean. Screening for essential amino acids, fatty acids, and trace minerals for selected genotypes is underway.

An aldehyde-containing galactolipid from the red alga Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis

An unprecedented aldehyde-containing digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDAG) has been isolated from the red alga Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis and structurally defined. Its structure was determined as 1-O-[5-hydroxy-12-oxo-dodeca-6(E),8(E),10(E)-trienoyl]-2-O-p almitoyl-3-O- [-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-6,1-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl]-glycerol by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and degradation to simple fragments. The identification of this aldehyde-containing DGDAG from G. lemaneiformis, in addition to our previous findings of unusual galactolipids, further indicates that this alga has unique lipoxygenase capacities.

Assay of liver cytosol lipoxygenase by differential pulse polarography

Lipoxygenase activity assayed by differential pulse polarography was found to be more sensitive than that determined by the increase in absorption at 234 nm. The lipoxygenase activity level in the liver cytosol of rats fed oxidized palm oil was significantly higher than that of the control animals fed either saline or fresh palm oil. The effects of flavonoids on the inhibition of lipoxygenase activity level in liver cytosol of rats were in the decreasing order quercetin greater than myricetin greater than morin greater than phloretin. The observed free malonaldehyde (MDA) in liver cytosol of rats determined by high-performance liquid chromatography using malonaldehyde-dinitro-phenylhydrazine complex was 23, 25, and 51.2% for rats fed saline, fresh palm oil, and oxidized palm oil, respectively. A linear relationship between the lipoxygenase activity and the free liver cytosol MDA was shown. The assay of lipoxygenase by differential pulse polarography provides a simple, sensitive, and quantitative method for the study of liver lipid peroxidation.

Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against soybean seed lipoxygenase isoenzymes

Sets of monoclonal antibodies have been prepared using two soybean seed lipoxygenase isoenzymes as the antigens. The antibodies were characterized by ELISA, Western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation, and in kinetic assays. Several antibodies displaying selectivity for the two closely related polypeptides were obtained, while the majority of the antibodies generated were crossreactive. Antibodies specific to the native and denatured forms of the two proteins were also obtained. Two of the monospecific antibodies were shown to immunoprecipitate the appropriate isoenzyme selectively from a mixture. When these antibodies were immobilized on agarose, they were successful in the immunoaffinity purification of the individual isoenzymes. In kinetic experiments certain antibodies were found to influence catalysis upon incubation with lipoxygenase. Antibodies which both inhibited and stimulated catalysis were identified.

Altered arachidonic acid metabolism during differentiation of the human monoblastoid cell line U937

The human cell line U937 was used as a model for differentiation along the mononuclear phagocyte lineage. Following treatment with the phorbol ester TPA, PGE2 and TxB2 secretion was induced 50-100-fold, and both PGF2 alpha and PGI2 levels became detectable in the supernatant of TPA-differentiated U937 cells. The content of the prostaglandin precursor, arachidonic acid, remained unchanged in the cellular phospholipids of undifferentiated and TPA-differentiated U937 cells. Of the enzymes involved in the availability and metabolism of arachidonic acid, phospholipase A2 activity was increased 2-fold in the membranes of TPA-differentiated U937 cells, whereas lysophosphatide acyltransferase activity remained unaltered. Cyclooxygenase activity, however, was enhanced 5-10-fold, which was due to enhanced expression of the enzyme as demonstrated by dot-blot analysis. The data suggest that the capacity to secrete prostaglandins is acquired during differentiation with TPA and results mainly from an increased cyclooxygenase activity. Despite the capacity of TPA-differentiated U937 cells to synthesize prostaglandins, none of the known monocytic stimuli further stimulated prostaglandin secretion in TPA-differentiated U937 cells. Generation of leukotrienes appears to represent a later state in the differentiation along the monocyte-macrophage lineage, since neither LTB4 nor cysteinyl-leukotrienes were detectable in the supernatants of either undifferentiated or TPA-differentiated U937 cells.

Arachidonic acid metabolism in HEL/30 murine epidermal cell line

The established mouse epidermis-derived cell line HEL/30 was incubated in the presence of 3H arachidonic acid (AA) for 1 h. After medium removal, cells were reincubated with fresh medium in the presence or absence of the calcium ionophore A23187 and tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The AA metabolites formed were extracted from cell-free medium and analyzed using TLC and HPLC. The distribution of the recovered radioactivity showed PGE2, 15-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4), as major products of AA metabolism. The presence of calcium ionophore A23187 increased the release of radioactivity, without affecting the profile of metabolites present in the medium. TPA elicited a preferential increase of cycloxygenase metabolism, this effect being reversed by indomethacin. 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) almost completely inhibited LT and HETE formation in A23187 and TPA-treated cells. The results show that HEL/30 cells are able to metabolize AA via both cyclo- and lipoxygenase pathways and that these activities can be modified by chemical means. This cell line might be a suitable tool for studying the involvement of arachidonic acid cascade in cell response to exogenous stimuli.

[A coupled enzyme system for detection of phospholipase A2 inhibitors]

A coupled assay of phospholipase-A2 and lipoxygenase that especially can be applied to the determination of phospholipase-A2-inhibition is described. A partialsynthetic dilinolenoylglycerophosphocholine is used as substrate in the form of mixed micelles with Twenn-20. Pentadienoic fatty acids primarily produced by venom phospholipase-A2 are peroxydized in a second step quantitatively. Diminution in oxygen content is registrated by an oxygen sensitive electrode and the reaction process is plotted continuously. The usefulness of this assay in the screening of inhibitors and disturbing influences are discussed.

Primary structure of soybean lipoxygenase-1

The primary structure of lipoxygenase-1 from soybeans has been determined. The results were deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the complete cDNA for isozyme lipoxygenase-1 and were confirmed by Edman sequencing of selected peptides obtained by CNBr cleavage and supported by carboxyl-terminal sequencing of the intact protein and by partial peptide analysis employing fast atom bombardment-mass spectroscopy. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 94,038 based on its content of 838 amino acids.