Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of bioenergetics in wild-type and adenosinetriphosphatase(1-) Escherichia coli cells

By use of 31P NMR, the transmembrane pH gradient (delta pH) and the intracellular levels of phosphorylated metabolites were measured in aerobic suspensions of wild-type Escherichia coli cells in the presence and absence of the adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) inhibitor dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD); the same parameters were also determined in E. coli mutants deficient in ATPase activity under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. A method is described by which dense suspensions of E. coli cells (approximately 3 X 10(11) cells/mL) were oxygenated so that steady-state O2 levels in the suspensions were far greater than the Km for O2 consumption. Under these conditions, in wild-type MRE600 cells, the intracellular concentrations of PI, NTP, and NDP were measured to be 3.0 +/- 1.5, 8 +/- 1, and 1.2 +/- 1 mM, respectively, while the intracellular pH was approximately 7.5 over the external pH range studied (6 to approximately 7.0). Upon treatment with DCCD, the intracellular NTP level was drastically reduced and intracellular Pi concentration increased in respiring wild-type cells; in the same cells, however, DCCD did not affect the intracellular pH and the delta pH. During respiration in the presence of lactate, ATPase- cells established a delta pH but failed to synthesize any detectable levels of NTP. Conversely, ATPase- cells accumulated high levels of NTP but did not generate a delta pH during glycolysis under anaerobic conditions. These results are in complete agreement with the generally accepted chemiosmotic hypothesis. 31P NMR data on intact ATPase- NR70 cells were in agreement with the previously proposed [Rosen, B. P., Brey, R., & Hasan, S. (1978) J. Bacteriol. 134, 1030] existence of a proton leak in this strain which is sealed by DCCD or by spontaneous mutation into strain NR71. However, the NMR data also indicated that other major differences exist between NR71 and NR70 cells.

Ecto-adenosine triphosphatase deficiency in cultured human T and null leukemic lymphocytes. A biochemical basis for thymidine sensitivity

Cultured leukemic T and null lymphocytes are highly sensitive to growth inhibition by thymidine, as well as the other deoxynucleosides, deoxyguanosine and deoxyadenosine. By contrast, Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B lymphocytes are relatively resistant to deoxynucleosides. Growth inhibition is associated with the development of high deoxyribotriphosphate pools after exposure to the respective deoxynucleotides. We show that malignant T and null lymphocytes are deficient in ecto-ATPase activity. We show this cell surface enzyme to be of broad specificity, capable of degrading both ribotriphosphates and deoxyribotriphosphates. High levels of this ecto-enzyme are found in deoxynucleoside-resistant, Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B lymphocytes. Ecto-ATPase deficiency may represent a mechanism for increased sensitivity to deoxynucleoside growth inhibition.

Age-, sex-, and strain-dependent differences in the induction of enzyme-altered islands in rat liver by diethylnitrosamine

The formation of foci with loss of ATPase and emergence of gamma-GTase was studied histochemically in livers of male and female Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats of 3--4 and 6--7 weeks of age, respectively, after application of diethylnitrosamine. A single dose of 8 mg/kg body weight induced a considerable island formation in weanlings of both sexes. Island induction in adults was observed only after repeated application. No difference in island size and number was observed with the exception of greater island size and Sprague-Dawley females. Sex-dependent differences in susceptibility to island induction were observed in weanlings, females being more sensitivity than males and Sprague-Dawley females being the most sensitive of all. No correlation was seen between monooxygenase activity and the extent of island formation. The coincidence of ATPase-deficiency and emergence of gamma-GTase was highest in Sprague-Dawley females. The importance of this result in respect to cancer formation is discussed. Weanling Sprague-Dawley females seemed to be the most suitable for use in a screening test system for chemical carcinogenicity, especially for testing low doses or weak carcinogens.

Abnormal deficiency of both Mg2+ and Ca2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase and secretory granules and vesicles in human seminal plasma

A pronounced deficiency of Mg2+ and Ca2+-dependent ATPase and of secretory granules and vesicles was demonstrated in the seminal plasma of a patient with infertility problems (person A) and with a lowered serum testosterone level. Both total ejaculates and different fractions of split-ejaculates were examined on repeated occasions. Divalent cations, fructose and protein were also determined in most of the samples. The low activity of the Mg2+ and Ca2+-dependent ATPase and the ultrastructure of the split-ejaculates of the seminal plasma of person A contrasted sharply against the high activity of the Mg2+ and Ca2+-dependent ATPase and the ultrastructure of the split-ejaculates of the seminal plasma of another individual (person B). The latter displayed a normal Mg2+ and Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity as well as an ordinary representation of the secretory granules and vesicles. The findings on the ATPase system in the seminal plasma of person A together with the lowered levels of divalent cations in the order Ca2+ less than Mg2+ less than Zn2+ are proposed to reflect a defective functioning of the prostate gland in person A.

Correlation between time of partial hepatectomy after a single treatment with diethylnitrosamine and induction of adenosinetriphosphatase-deficient islands in rat liver

Full-grown Sprague-Dawley rats were given a single i.p. injection of diethylnitrosamine (80 mg/kg) and subjected to partial hepatectomy at various times from 4 hr to 7 days later to induce semisynchronized liver cell proliferation. Then, they were maintained on basal diet containing 0.05% phenobarbital, which is known to promote hepatocarcinogenesis, for 16 weeks. By this method, significant numbers of adenosinetriphosphatase-deficient islands were induced in the liver. These islands are considered to be formed by immediate progeny of "initiated cells" or cell precursors in hepatocarcinogenesis, and they can be used as a marker of carcinogenic activity. Results showed that the number of enzyme-altered islands induced was inversely proportional to the time between carcinogen treatment and subsequent partial hepatectomy. The incidence of enzyme-altered islands was greatest when the two treatments were separated by 4 hr and decreased when they were separated by 7 days. These data suggest that carcinogen-induced DNA damage, if not repaired before cell proliferation, is intimately related to the initiation-fixation process of carcinogenesis.

Vinyl chloride and trichloroethylene: comparison of alkylating effects of metabolites and induction of preneoplastic enzyme deficiencies in rat liver

[1,2-14C] Vinyl chloride and [1,2-14C] trichloroethylene were incubated with rat liver microsomes, NADPH and RNA (from yeast). Whereas trichloroethylene metabolites were irreversibly bound to proteins in microsomal incubations to a higher extent than vinyl chloride metabolites, irreversible binding to RNA was lower for trichloroethylene metabolites. Hydrolysis of the RNA which was reisolated from microsomal incubations with 14C-vinyl chloride or 14C-trichloroethylene and separation of the nucleosides showed different alkylation products arising from vinyl chloride and from trichloroethylene, characteristic for vinyl chloride being formation of 1,N6-ethenoadenosine and 3,N4-enthenocytidine. The different reactivities of metabolites of vinyl chloride and of trichloroethylene prompted a comparison of the oncogenic effects of both compounds against the rat liver cell. Newborn rats were exposed for 10 weeks to 2000 ppm vinyl chloride or trichloroethylene (8 h/day; 5 days/week). After this period livers of the animals were stained for nucleoside-5-triphosphatase. Whereas the vinyl chloride exposed rats showed focal hepatocellular deficiencies in this enzyme, which are supposed to represent an early sign of malignancy, no such changes were induced by trichloroethylene exposure. The data therefore suggest differences between the hepatocarcinogenic activity of vinyl chloride and possible effects of trichloroethylene on the liver.

Congenital non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia variants with primary and secondary pyruvate kinase deficiency. I. Erythrokinetic patterns

The patterns of survival of isotope-labelled erythrocytes were examined in patients suffering from two variants of congenital non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia with decreased erythrocyte pyruvate kinase (PK) activity. In one variant, with primary PK defect (PPKD) random destruction of erythrocytes was predominant in the process of haemolysis. In the second variant, with primary magnesium activated adenosine triphosphatase (ATP-ase) (Mg++) deficiency and a secondary decrease in PK activity, erythrocytes were destroyed by senescence. Two subpopulations of labelled erythrocytes with different destruction rates were observed in all patients examined, except one with the second variant, with very mild haemolysis. Splenectomy, performed on two patient, was successful only in the variant with PPKD.

Congenital non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia variants with primary and secondary pyruvate kinase deficiency. II. Enzymatic studies

Some metabolic effects associated with defective pyruvate kinase (PK) in two variants of congenital non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia with primary PK and primary adenosine triphosphatase (ATP-ase) (Mg++) deficiency respectively we compared. In one patient with a low erythrocyte ATP level, decreased PK activity appeared together with the irreversible loss of its sensitivity to fructose-I,6-diphosphate (FDP), independently of the experimental conditions. In the second patient, the decrease in PK activity associated with an elevated erythrocyte ATP level was a secondary effect, due to primary ATP-ase (Mg++) deficiency. Removal of excessive amounts of ATP, by dialysis of haemolysates or their in-vitro treatment with ATP-ase, increased PK activity to the normal range and restored its sensitivity to the stimulatory effect of FDP. Similar effects could be obtained after i.v. administration of magnesium laevulinate. Under these in vivo conditions the ATP level was normalized after a transient rise ATP-ase activity, the PK activity increased and its sensitivity to FDP reappeared.

Effect of removal of calcium-activated adenosine triphosphatase from rat mast cells by treatment with sodium glycocholate

Sodium glycocholate was shown to remove a Ca2+-activated adenosine triphosphatase from the external surface of the rat mast cell without causing lysis. Sensitized mast cells pretreated with sodium glycocholate showed a decrease in histamine-releasing capacity when triggered with antigen, Synacthen and ATP. Release induced by calcium ionophore A23187 was unaffected.

Effects of membrane-energy mutations and cations on streptomycin and gentamicin accumulation by bacteria: a model for entry of streptomycin and gentamicin in susceptible and resistant bacteria

Several mutants of Escherichia coli affecting aerobic energy generation and energization of the bacterial membrane have been examined for their effect on streptomycin and gentamicin accumulation and susceptibility. A heme-deficient mutant (K207) and two mutants (CJ-8 [colicin K insensitive] and NR-70) associated with defective aerobic active transport were associated with decreased transport of streptomycin and gentamicin and increased resistance to those antibiotics. These mutants also exhibited increased resistance to several other aminoglycoside antibiotics, but not the aminocyclitol spectinomycin. The same observations were made with a ubiquinone-deficient mutant, but a strA derivative of this mutant was shown additionally to be saturable for streptomycin accumulation at a concentration four or more times lower than that required for saturation of the parent. A mutant uncoupled for adenosine 5'-triphosphate synthesis from electron transport and membrane Mg-adenosine 5'-triphosphatase deficient was hypersensitive to those aminoglycosides tested and spectinomycin, and showed enhanced transport of streptomycin and gentamicin. A variety of compounds structurally related to streptomycin were examined at high concentrations for inhibition of streptomycin uptake in a strA mutant of E. coli K-12 SA 1306, but no evidence for competition was detected, suggesting the absence of a common transport carrier. Four different divalent cations were shown to inhibit streptomycin and gentamicin accumulation in E. coli K-12 SA 1306. Divalent cations were shown to inhibit uptake of these two drugs in two bacterial species with distinct cell wall structures, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, and to inhibit streptomycin uptake in spheroplasts of streptomycin-susceptible and -resistant E. coli. However, calcium had almost no inhibitory effect on streptomycin uptake by the ubiquinone-deficient mutant E. coli AN66. These and previous findings have been used to formulate a model for aminoglycoside entry into bacteria using a low-affinity membranous complex involved in membrane energization that includes respiratory quinones, which probably act to bind and transport aminoglycosides across the cell membrane. This phase of transport is associated with the lowest accumulation rate (termed energy-dependent phase I) that is rate limiting for susceptibility. It is further proposed that subsequent association of the membrane-bound aminoglycoside with higher-affinity binding sites on membrane-associated ribosomes carrying out a normal ribosomal cycle and protein synthesis results in a more rapid transport rate (termed energy-dependent phase II). The increased rate could result from a state of membrane energization analogous to that causing enhanced aminoglycoside transport rates seen in the uncoupled mutant, AN120. How this model explains the mechanism by which enzymatically modified aminoglycosides render cells resistant to unmodified aminoglycosides is also discussed.

[Enzyme deficiencies in glycolysis and nucleotide metabolism of red blood cells in nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia (author's transl)]

The detection of enzyme deficiencies in glycolytic and nucleotide metabolism of human red blood cells has enriched the pathophysiological knowledge on the origin of nonspherocytic hemolytic anemias (NSHA). So far for 11 of 13 glycolytic enzymes deficiencies have been described which are connected with alterations of biochemical enzymatic properties. The most frequent enzyme deficiencies are those of GPI and PK. By performance of special electrophoretic techniques genetic studies allow the demonstration of homozygote and double heterozygote defect carriers. Up to now only adenylate kinase and pyrimidine 5' nucleotidase deficiencies have been detected as genetically determined in altered nucleotide metabolism. The metabolic alterations of several enzymopathies have been characterized so well, that the pathophysiological relations between enzyme deficiency and NSHA probably have been found to be a sufficient explanation.

[Various enzymes of isolated nuclear membranes and cell nuclei of the liver and hepatoma 27 of rats]

A comparative study of glucose-6-phosphatase, alcaline RNase, ATPase, inosine diphosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase activities in isolated rat liver and hepatoma-27 nuclei and nuclear envelopes was performed. The tumor nuclear membranes were shown to be free from G-6-Pase activity in contrast to the liver nuclear membranes. The nuclear RNase activity was strongly inhibited in the hepatoma and could be unmasked in the presence of 3-10(-4) M pCMB. Hepatoma nuclear and nuclear envelopes ATP-ase activity was found to be moderately decreased as compared to those of the normal tissue. The values of inosine diphosphatase activity in hepatoma were similar to those in liver. The role of the nuclear envelope in nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions as well as nuclear location of G-6-Pase are discussed.

Kinetics of induction and growth of enzyme-deficient islands involved in hepatocarcinogenesis

A single application of various hepatocarcinogens to rats results in the formation of islands of enzyme-deficient liver cells, which are mainly irreversible and very probably represent the first cellular stage involved in the process of liver cancer formation. Comparison of the island-size distributions obtained for different carcinogens indicated that proliferation is a common property of islands that is independent of the inducing carcinogen and does not need any further presence of carcinogen or other stimulating factors. Toxic doses resulted in all cases in an enhanced island size. The number of islands induced by a single dose of carcinogen was enhanced by a prior partial hepatectomy only in the case of the dialkylnitrosamines, dimethylnitrosamine, and diethylnitrosamine. Dose-response relationships measured with diethylnitrosamine, the carcinogen with the lowest toxicity as compared with the carcinogenic action, indicated that island formation is due to a one-hit process, i.e., that one specific alteration in the target cell is responsible for the precancerous transformation. These kinetics and the low probability of transformation might indicate that the crucial hit is scored at the genetic level. The irreversible action of carcinogen (memory effect) and the influence of time on cancer formation (time effect) are discussed in terms of induction and proliferation of irreversible cell populations serving as precursor of the cancer cell. The number of specific alterations (hits) involved in the development of the malignant cancer cell is also briefly discussed.

Tubular Na, K-ATPase deficiency, the cause of the congenital renal salt-losing syndrome

In the serum of two infant sisters with a congenital renal salt-losing syndrome, Na was rather low and K considerably increased. Even with Na levels of 126 mval/1, sodium was excreted in the urine. Creatinine and hippurate clearances were normal. Primary disturbances of the steroid metabolism were not detectable; plasma cortisol was normal, aldosterone and renin were compensatorily increased. Treatment with DOCA was unsuccessful. Whereas the first infant died (in another hospital), the second one throve well with high oral substitution of NaCl. There was no pathological findings other than a moderate hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular apparatus, in a kidney biopsy. Except for minimal activity in the ascending limb of Henle's loop, there was no membrane bound Na, K-ATPase in the microdissected tubules. This finding most probably explains the renal salt loss, as this enzyme is necessary for the transcellular flow of sodium and potassium.

Phospholipids and ATPase activity of wild-type and ATPase deficient and uncoupled mutants of E. coli

The ATPase activities and the amounts of individual phospholipids in E. coli wild types B163 and ML-308-225 as well as in the mutants AN120, DL54 and etc-15 have been examined. The ATPase activities and the amount of cardiolipin are higher in the stationary phase than in the log phase, whereas the amounts of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylserine are lower in the stationary phase. The decreased ATPase activity of the mutants is not due to an altered phospholipid composition.