[Detection of plant ribonucleases in polyacrylamide gels after disk electrophoresis]

Affinity-trap polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis: a novel method of capturing specific proteins by electro-transfer

A method for the affinity capture of specific proteins from a complex mixture using a polyacrylamide gel technique is described. The approach is based on the orthogonal electro-transfer of proteins separated by ordinary polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) to a ligand-coupled polyacrylamide gel (Li-PAG), which is placed under the PAGE gel. Upon electro-transfer, the proteins orthogonally migrate from the PAGE into the Li-PAG, based on the net charge. During migration to the Li-PAG, proteins that specifically interact with a ligand can be transiently trapped in the Li-PAG, while those that do not interact with a ligand pass through it. This method permits the separation of the proteins that can specifically interact with a ligand, even when present in a complex mixture. The method is demonstrated by applying it to the one-step isolation of a trypsin inhibitor from a crude extract of soybean flour.

Identification, characterization, and comparison of RNA-degrading enzymes of wheat and barley

RNA-degrading enzymes play an important role in regulating gene expression, and sequence analyses have revealed significant homology among several plant RNA-degrading enzymes. In this study we surveyed crude extracts of the above-ground part of the common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and the cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) for major RNA-degrading enzymes using a substrate-based SDS-PAGE assay. Fifteen wheat and fourteen barley RNA-degrading enzymes, with apparent molecular masses ranging from 16.3 to 40.1 kD, were identified. These RNA-degrading enzymes were characterized by their response to pH changes and addition of EDTA and ZnCl2 to the preincubation or incubation buffers. The 33.2- to 40.1-kD wheat and barley, 31.7-kD wheat, and 32.0-kD barley enzyme activities were inhibited by both zinc and EDTA and were relatively tolerant to alkaline environment. The 22.7- to 28.2-kD enzymes were inhibited by zinc but stimulated by EDTA. The 18.8-kD enzyme exists in both wheat and barley. It was active in an acid environment, was inhibited by zinc, but was not affected by EDTA. Two enzyme activities (31.0 and 32.0 kD) are unique to the common wheat.

The occurrence of two ribosomal ribonucleases depending on growth phase in yeast. Induction of ribonuclease in glucose-starved cells

There are two latent ribonucleases associated with the 40 S subunits of yeast ribosomes which differ in their digestion products, pH optimum, molecular weight, and in their activity during growth phase. The 3'-nucleotide-producing enzyme is active only in the late logarithmic or stationary growth phase, whereas the ribonuclease which produces 5'-nucleotides is present at all growth phases. The enzymes were separated by affinity chromatography and were partially characterized. By changing growth conditions--i.e. decreasing and increasing the glucose concentration in the medium--the activity of the 3'-ribonuclease could be induced or reduced.