Pitfalls in the use of commercial nonionic detergents for the solubilization of integral membrane proteins: sulfhydryl oxidizing contaminants and their elimination

Modulation of the structure, catalytic activity, and fidelity of African swine fever virus DNA polymerase X by a reversible disulfide switch

African swine fever virus polymerase X (pol X) is the smallest DNA polymerase known (174 amino acids), and its tertiary structure resembles the C-terminal half of prototypical X-family pol beta, which includes a catalytic dNTP-binding site (palm domain) and a finger domain. This structural similarity and the presence of viral genes coding for other base excision repair proteins suggest that pol X functions in a manner similar to pol beta, but inconsistencies concerning pol X catalysis have been reported. We examined the structural and functional properties of two forms of pol X using spectroscopic and kinetic analysis. Using (1)H-(15)N correlated NMR, we unambiguously demonstrated the slow interconversion of pol X between a reduced (pol X(red)) and an oxidized form (pol X(ox)), confirmed by mass spectrometry. Steady-state kinetic analysis revealed that pol X(ox), with a disulfide bond between Cys-81 and Cys-86, has approximately 10-fold lower fidelity than pol X(red) during dNTP insertion opposite a template G. The disulfide linkage is located between two beta-strands in the palm domain, near the putative dNTP-binding site. Structural alignment of pol X with a pol beta ternary structure suggests that the disulfide switch may modulate fidelity by altering the ability of the palm domain to align and stabilize the primer terminus and catalytic metal ion for deprotonation of the 3'-OH group and subsequent phosphoryl transfer. Thus, DNA polymerase fidelity is altered by the redox state of the enzyme and its related conformational changes.

Evaluation of Hydroperoxides in Common Pharmaceutical Excipients

While the physical properties of pharmaceutical excipients have been well characterized, impurities that may influence the chemical stability of formulated drug product have not been well studied. In this work, the hydroperoxide (HPO) impurity levels of common pharmaceutical excipients are measured and presented for both soluble and insoluble excipients. Povidone, polysorbate 80 (PS80), polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400, and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) were found to contain substantial concentrations of HPOs with significant lot-to-lot and manufacturer-to-manufacturer variation. Much lower HPO levels were found in the common fillers, like microcrystalline cellulose and lactose, and in high molecular weight PEG, medium chain glyceride (MCG), and poloxamer. The findings are discussed within the context of HPO-mediated oxidation and formulating drug substance sensitive to oxidation. Of the four excipients with substantial HPO levels, povidone, PEG 400, and HPC contain a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and organic HPOs while PS80 contains predominantly organic HPOs. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to the known manufacturing processes and chemistry of HPO reactivity and degradation kinetics. Defining critical HPO limits for excipients should be driven by the chemistry of a specific drug substance or product and can only be defined within this context.

Dual Effect of Pyruvate in Isolated Nerve Terminals: Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species and Protection of Aconitase

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in synaptosomes was investigated in the presence of different substrates. When pyruvate was used as a substrate an increased rate of hydrogen peroxide formation was detected by the Amplex Red fluorescent assay, but aconitase, which is known to be a highly sensitive enzyme to ROS was not inhibited. In contrast, pyruvate exerted a partial protection on aconitase against a time-dependent inactivation that occurred when synaptosomes were incubated in the absence of substrates. Disruption of synaptosomal membranes with Triton X-100 prevented the protective effect of pyruvate. It is suggested that citrate and/or isocitrate formed in the metabolism of pyruvate could be responsible for a partial protection of aconitase. Therefore while pyruvate could have a prooxidant effect it could also exert a protective effect on the aconitase.

Peroxide formation in polysorbate 80 and protein stability

Nonionic surfactants are widely used in the development of protein pharmaceuticals. However, the low level of residual peroxides in surfactants can potentially affect the stability of oxidation-sensitive proteins. In this report, we examined the peroxide formation in polysorbate 80 under a variety of storage conditions and tested the potential of peroxides in polysorbate 80 to oxidize a model protein, IL-2 mutein. For the first time, we demonstrated that peroxides can be easily generated in neat polysorbate 80 in the presence of air during incubation at elevated temperatures. Polysorbate 80 in aqueous solution exhibited a faster rate of peroxide formation and a greater amount of peroxides during incubation, which is further promoted/catalyzed by light. Peroxide formation can be greatly inhibited by preventing any contact with air/oxygen during storage. IL-2 mutein can be easily oxidized both in liquid and solid states. A lower level of peroxides in polysorbate 80 did not change the rate of IL-2 mutein oxidation in liquid state but significantly accelerated its oxidation in solid state under air. A higher level of peroxides in polysorbate 80 caused a significant increase in IL-2 mutein oxidation both in liquid and solid states, and glutathione can significantly inhibit the peroxide-induced oxidation of IL-2 mutein in a lyophilized formulation. In addition, a higher level of peroxides in polysorbate 80 caused immediate IL-2 mutein oxidation during annealing in lyophilization, suggesting that implementation of an annealing step needs to be carefully evaluated in the development of a lyophilization process for oxidation-sensitive proteins in the presence of polysorbate.

Stability of the lactose permease in detergent solutions

Protein stability, as measured by irreversible protein aggregation, is one of the central difficulties in the handling of detergent-solubilized membrane proteins. We present a quantitative analysis of the stability of the Escherichia coli lactose (lac) permease and a series of lac permease fusion proteins containing an insertion of cytochrome(b562), T4 lysozyme or beta-lactamase in the central hydrophilic loop of the permease. The stability of the proteins was evaluated under a variety of storage conditions by both a qualitative SDS-PAGE assay and by a quantitative hplc assay. Long-chain maltoside detergents were more effective at maintaining purified protein in solution than detergents with smaller head groups and/or shorter alkyl tails. A full factorial experiment established that the proteins were insensitive to sodium chloride concentrations, but greatly stabilized by glycerol, low temperature and the combination of glycerol and low temperature. The accurate quantitation of the protein by absorbance spectroscopy required exclusion of all contact with clarified polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials. Although some of the fusion proteins were more prone to aggregation than the wild-type permease, the stability of a fusion protein containing a cytochrome(b562) insertion was indistinguishable from that of native lac permease.

Evidence for possible interactions between PLP and DM20 within the myelin sheath

PLP and its smaller DM20 isoform constitute the major proteins of CNS myelin. Previous studies indicated a role for the proteins in maintaining the intraperiod line of the myelin sheath and the integrity of axons and suggested that both isoforms were necessary to provide these functions. The present study shows that each isoform is capable individually of inserting into compact myelin. Employing chromatographic extraction procedures designed to maintain the natural conformation of the proteins we found that most PLP and DM20 remained associated. Using an antibody specific to the PLP isoform, we were able to co-immunoprecipitate DM20 from the major fraction of the extracted equine myelin and from mouse native whole myelin. We suggest that PLP and DM20 may form a hetero-oligomeric complex within the myelin sheath, probably in association with specific lipids and that this arrangement is essential for the normal structure of myelin and axons.

Effects of nonionic surfactants on the UV/visible absorption of bacterial cells

Nonionic surfactants are used in a number of different microbiological applications, including solubilization of cell membranes, washing bacterial cultures prior to experimentation, and enhancing biodegradation of low-solubility compounds. An important consideration in these applications is the potential for the surfactant to alter the cell membrane. One potential means to monitor the impact of surfactants on the bacterial cell membrane is through monitoring the absorbance spectrum of the bacterial suspension. This is due to the colloidal nature of bacteria, where the absorbance of a bacterial suspension is related to the size and refractive index of the bacterial cells. Through a systematic study it was shown that there can be a significant change in the bacterial absorbance spectrum due to the presence of nonionic surfactants, with the effect a function of surfactant structure and concentration, solution ionic strength and cation valence. The effects were most pronounced with Na(+) as the cation, with surfactants having mid-range hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) values, and with surfactant concentrations above the CMC. The results indicate that measurement of the absorbance spectrum of bacterial cultures can provide a means to monitor the effects of nonionic surfactants on the bacterial cell membrane. In addition, depending on the specific application, appropriate selection of surfactant structure and media composition can be made to enhance or minimize the effects.

Peroxide accumulation in detergents

It is known that polyether detergents have a propensity for peroxide accumulation but the rate of this accumulation and the conditions under which it occurs are not well-appreciated. We here describe the use of the FOX (ferrous oxidation in Xylenol orange) assay as a screen for detergent peroxide accumulation. We also show that a chain-breaking antioxidant, but not a metal-chelating agent block peroxide accumulation in detergent stored in the light at room temperature.

Phase separation of biomolecules in polyoxyethylene glycol nonionic detergents

The advantage of aqueous two-phase systems based on polyoxyethylene detergents over other liquid-liquid two-phase systems lies in their capacity to fractionate membrane proteins simply by heating the solution over a biocompatible range of temperatures (20 to 37 degrees C). This permits the peripheral membrane proteins to be effectively separated from the integral membrane proteins, which remain in the detergent-rich phase due to the interaction of their hydrophobic domains with detergent micelles. Since the first reports of this special characteristic of polyoxyethylene glycol detergents in 1981, numerous reports have consolidated this procedure as a fundamental technique in membrane biochemistry and molecular biology. As examples of their use in these two fields, this review summarizes the studies carried out on the topology, diversity, and anomalous behavior of transmembrane proteins on the distribution of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane proteins, and on a mechanism to describe the pH-induced translocation of viruses, bacterial endotoxins, and soluble cytoplasmic proteins related to membrane fusion. In addition, the phase separation capacity of these polyoxyethylene glycol detergents has been used to develop quick fractionation methods with high recoveries, on both a micro- and macroscale, and to speed up or increase the efficiency of bioanalytical assays.

Near-UV circular dichroism of band 3. Evidence for intradomain conformational changes and interdomain interactions

Near-UV circular dichroism (CD) was used to identify differences in the tertiary structure of human erythrocyte band 3, the chloride/bicarbonate exchange protein, consequent to covalent binding of anion transport inhibitors to the intramonomeric stilbenedisulfonate (ISD) site. Isolated intact band 3 and its membrane domain (B3MD) were compared. Spectral differences were observed which involved intradomain effects, in that they were seen both with intact band 3 and with B3MD, or interdomain effects, in that they were observed only for B3MD, but were inhibited when the cytoplasmic domain was attached. The intradomain effect involved a significant loss in optical activity in the Phe/Tyr region of the spectrum below 280 nm. It was seen only when the ISD site had stilbenedisulfonates bound covalently at pH 7.4. Raising the pH to 9.6 after adduct formation "normalized" this spectral change irreversibly. The interdomain effect was identified in the Trp spectral region at 292 nm. There was a significant increase in optical activity at 292 nm when bulky covalent ligands such as DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate) were bound to B3MD, but not when the same ligands were bound to intact band 3. These latter results offer evidence that certain aspects of the conformational response of the integral domain are inhibited by the presence of an attached cytoplasmic domain. The potential significance of interdomain interactions to band 3 function is discussed briefly.

Interference of the detergent Tween 80 in protein assays

The nonionic detergent Tween 80, which has been widely used to stimulate protein secretion in bacterial and fungal systems, caused interferences in three protein determination methods. The OD595 developed in the Coomassie blue dye-binding assay with a variety of purified proteins in the presence of Tween 80 was 1.6 to 3.4 times greater than that observed without detergent. These differences could not be attributed totally to the rapid color development in the assay with Tween 80 alone. Crude concentrated extracellular bacterial proteins shaken overnight with Tween 80 yielded an altered fractionation pattern on size exclusion chromatography and 10-fold increased color with an absorption spectrum in the dye-binding assay different from that of bacterial proteins shaken without detergent. In the bicinchoninic acid method, the detergent caused a 2- to 3-fold increase in OD562 due largely to contaminating peroxides which could be removed by treatment with catalase. In the Folin phenol method, the detergent caused a slight precipitate, but residual interference was not detectable in filtered assay mixtures.

Functional reconstitution of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor by CHAPS dialysis depends on the concentrations of salt, lipid, and protein

The detergent CHAPS was found to be the preferable surfactant for the efficient purification and reconstitution of the Torpedo californica nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR). The main result is that the incorporation of the AChR proteins into lipid vesicles by CHAPS dialysis was strongly dependent on the salt and protein concentrations. As monitored by sucrose gradients, by electron microscopy, and by agonist-induced lithium ion flux, the best reconstitution yields were obtained in 0.5 M NaCl at a protein concentration of 0.5 g/L and in 0.84 M NaCl at 0.15 g/L protein. Electron micrographs of receptor molecules, which were incorporated into vesicles, showed single, nonaggregated dimer (M(r) = 580,000) and monomer (M(r) = 290,000) species. CHAPS dialysis at NaCl concentrations less than 0.5 M largely reduced the receptor incorporation concomitant with protein aggregation. Electron micrographs of these preparations revealed large protein sheets or ribbons not incorporated into vesicles. The analysis of static and dynamic light scattering demonstrated that the detergent-solubilized AChR molecules aggregate at low lipid contents (less than or equal to 500 phospholipids/AChR dimer), independent of the salt concentration. AChR proteins eluted from an affinity column with a solution containing 8 mM CHAPS (but no added lipid) still contained 130 +/- 34 tightly bound phospholipids per dimer. The aggregates (about 10 dimers on the average) could be dissociated by readdition of lipid and, interestingly, also by increasing the CHAPS concentration up to 15 mM. This value is much higher than the CMC of CHAPS = 4.0 +/- 0.4 mM, which was determined by surface tension measurements. The data clearly suggest protein-micelle interactions in addition to the association of monomeric detergents with proteins. Furthermore, the concentration of the (free) monomeric CHAPS at the vesicle-micelle transformation in 0.5 M NaCl ([Dw]c = 3.65 mM) was higher than in 50 mM NaCl ([Dw]c = 2.8 mM). However, it is suggested that the main effect of high salt concentrations during the reconstitution process is an increase of the fusion (rate) of the ternary protein/lipid/CHAPS complexes with mixed micelles or with vesicular structures, similar to the salt-dependent fusion of vesicles.

A large-scale procedure for the isolation of integrin GPIIb/IIIa, the human platelet fibrinogen receptor

The heterodimer GPIIb/IIIa, formed by the Ca(2+)-dependent association of glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa), is the major integrin at the platelet surface, where it serves as the receptor for fibrinogen and other adhesive proteins and plays a central role in platelet aggregation and in platelet adhesion to the subendothelium. Here we describe a procedure for the isolation of GPIIb/IIIa using as starting material either the whole particulate fraction, obtained by differential centrifugation after hypoosmotic lysis of glycerol-loaded platelets, or any of the fractions obtained by density gradient centrifugation of the whole particulate fraction. The procedure consists simply of differential extraction with Triton X-100 of the starting particulate fraction, anion-exchange chromatography of the 4% Triton X-100 supernatant, and size-exclusion chromatography of the GPIIb/IIIa-rich fraction retained in the ion-exchange column. The use of particulate fractions instead of whole platelets as the starting material for extraction together with differential extraction with Triton X-100 (two steps that are simple and inexpensive to perform) results in the early removal of many unwanted proteins, which otherwise would have to be removed at later stages at the expense of severely impairing the final yield of GPIIb/IIIa. Pure GPIIb/IIIa is obtained with a yield of about 48%, the highest so far reported, calculated with respect to the GPIIb and GPIIIa content in the starting particulate fraction. The final product can be stored in freeze-dried form without apparent changes in its physical and chemical properties.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization and isolation of an intracellular D-mannose-specific receptor from human promyelocytic HL60 cells

Most mammalian macrophages express D-mannose-specific receptor (membrane lectin, Mr 175,000) allowing endocytosis of their ligands, but cells of the monocytic lineage (HL60, U937, monocyte) lack this receptor. However, after permeabilization, promyelocytic, promonocytic cells and monocytes bound fluoresceinylated D-mannose-terminated neoglycoproteins as evidenced by flow cytometry. Under these conditions, confocal analysis confirmed the intracellular membrane localization of the labeling and the absence of nuclear binding. An intracellular D-mannose-specific receptor was isolated from the human promyelocytic cell line HL60, by affinity chromatography on 4-isothiocyanatophenyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside-substituted Affi-gel as a 60,000-Mr membrane protein requiring divalent cations for the ligand binding. Under the same conditions, mouse macrophages were shown to express a 175,000-Mr D-mannose-specific receptor but not the 60,000-Mr receptor.

Molecular characterization of the human platelet integrin GPIIb/IIIa and its constituent glycoproteins

Human platelet plasma membrane glycoproteins IIb (GPIIb) and IIIa (GPIIIa) form a Ca(2+)-dependent heterodimer, the integrin GPIIb/IIIa, which serves as the receptor for fibrinogen and other adhesive proteins at the surface of activated platelets. Below the critical micellar concentration of Triton X100 (TtX), the three glycoproteins do not bind appreciably to TtX and form association products of large size. The size-exclusion chromatographic patterns of GPIIb, GPIIIa and GPIIb/IIIa have been obtained at 0.2% TtX, and the molecular properties of the association products and monomer fractions have been determined by analysis of the detergent bound to the glycoproteins, laser-light scattering, sedimentation velocity, and electron microscopy (TEM). The monomer of the GPIIb-TtX complex was identified by the molecular mass (M) of the glycoprotein moiety (125 +/- 15 kDa), the molecular size (9.5 +/- 1.5 nm x 11 +/- 1.5 nm) and globular shape observed by TEM. It has a molecular mass (M*) of 197 +/- 20 kDa, a sedimentation coefficient s degrees 20* of 5.8 +/- 0.1 S, a Stokes radius R s* of 6.8 +/- 0.4 nm, and a frictional ratio f*/fmin* of 1.7 +/- 0.14. The (GPIIb)n-TtX complexes are disulphide-bonded size-heterogeneous association products of GPIIb, tetramers being the smallest species found. GPIIIa has a greater propensity to self-associate than GPIIb, this tendency being lower below 1 mg GPIIIa/ml, 0.1 mM Ca2+, pH 9.0. The (GPIIIa)n-TtX complexes are noncovalent size-heterogeneous association products of GPIIIa, tetramers being the smallest form observed. The monomer of the GPIIIa-TtX complex was identified by the 103 +/- 15 kDa M determined for the glycoprotein moiety, and the 9 +/- 1.5 nm x 10 +/- 1.5 nm size and globular shape observed by TEM. It has a M* of 136 +/- 15 kDa, a s degrees 20* of 3.9 +/- 0.3 S, a Rs* of 6.4 +/- 0.5 nm, a f*/fmin* of 1.9 +/- 0.3, and, when stored at pH 7.4, has a certain tendency to form filamentous association products (20-70 nm x 2-5 nm), as observed by TEM. The GPIIb/IIIa-TtX complex in 0.2% TtX/0.1 mM Ca2+ elutes as a single monomeric fraction, as deduced from the 210 +/- 15 kDa M determined for its glycoprotein moiety and the 12 +/- 1.5 nm x 14 +/- 1.5 nm size of the globular forms observed by TEM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Association of topoisomerase II with the hepatoma cell nuclear matrix: the role of intermolecular disulfide bond formation

Previous studies have resulted in conflicting data regarding the recovery of the nuclear enzymes topoisomerase (topo) II and topo I in the nuclear matrix fraction. In the present study we have assessed the effect of systematically altering a single extraction procedure on the distribution of these enzymes during the subfractionation of nuclei from HTC hepatoma tissue culture cells. When nuclear monolayers (prepared by treating attached cells in situ with the neutral detergent Nonidet-P40 at 4 degrees C) were isolated in the presence of the irreversible sulfhydryl blocking reagent iodoacetamide, subsequent treatment with DNase I and RNase A followed by 1.6 M NaCl resulted in structures which were extensively depleted of intranuclear components as assessed by phase contrast microscopy and conventional transmission electron microscopy. These structures contained 12 +/- 4% of the total protein present in the original nuclear monolayers. The lamins and polypeptides with molecular weights comparable to those of actin and vimentin were the predominant polypeptides present on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Western blotting revealed that less than 5% of the total nuclear topo II molecules were present in these structures. In contrast, when the sulfhydryl cross-linking reagent sodium tetrathionate (NaTT) was substituted for iodoacetamide, the same extraction procedure yielded structures containing components of the nucleolus and an extensive intranuclear network. These structures contained a wide variety of nonlamin, nonhistone nuclear polypeptides including 23 +/- 4% of the total nuclear topo II. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis performed under nonreducing conditions revealed that topo II in these nuclear matrices was present as part of a large disulfide cross-linked complex. Treatment of these structures with reducing agents in 1.6 M NaCl released the topo II. In contrast, topo I did not form disulfide cross-linked oligomers and was not detectable in any of these nuclease- and salt-resistant structures prepared at 4 degrees C. To assess the effect of in vitro heat treatment on the distribution of the topoisomerases, nuclear monolayers (isolated in the absence of iodoacetamide and NaTT) were heated to 37 degrees C for 1 h prior to treatment with nucleases and 1.6 M NaCl. The resulting structures (which retained 26 +/- 5% of the total nuclear protein) were morphologically similar to the NaTT-stabilized nuclear matrices and contained 15 +/- 4% of the total nuclear topo II. High-molecular-weight disulfide cross-linked oligomers of topo II were again demonstrated. Attempts to demonstrate these disulfide cross-linked oligomers in intact cells were unsuccessful.

Initial purification and characterization of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 from BNF-treated perch (Perca fluviatilis)

1. A procedure was developed for isolating and purifying cytochrome P-450 from hepatic microsomes of BNF-treated perch, using modified versions of the methods of Williams and Buhler (1982. Biochim. biophys. Acta 717, 398-404) and Goksøyr (1985. Biochim. biophys. Acta 850, 409-417). 2. Following chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose CL 4B and DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, the major peaks, fractions b and c, were resolved into five fractions, possibly representing different isoenzymes, by a FPLC with a strong anion exchange column (Mono Q). 3. These fractions have been characterized on the basis of their spectral, electrophoretic and immunological properties. 4. The purified form of cytochrome P-450 in fraction V from perch liver showed a number of similarities to cytochrome P-450c, the major BNF-inducible cytochrome P-450 in cod liver. 5. Therefore we suggest that this purified form of cytochrome P-450 is a BNF-induced form in perch and that it is closely related to the gene subfamily cytochrome P-450 IA1.

Purification of octyl beta-D-glucopyranoside and re-estimation of its micellar size

The commercial non-ionic detergent octyl beta-D-glucopyranoside is often contaminated by significant amounts of UV absorbing and/or ionic compounds that can associate with membrane proteins. Such impurities can be monitored by several techniques (i.e., spectrophotometry, size exclusion chromatography, and pH, conductivity, and surface tension measurements) and can be removed using mixed-bed ion exchange chromatography. High performance size exclusion chromatography, dynamic light scattering, and ultracentrifugation have been used to re-estimate the size of micelles of octyl beta-D-glucopyranoside since previously published data varied over a wide range. Aggregation numbers were 27 to 100 for micellar molecular weights 8000 to 29,000. Direct physical methods that do not perturbate the sample indicated a large size for the micelles (hydrodynamic radius 23 +/- 3 A; Mr 22,000 +/- 3000; aggregation number 75 +/- 10 for a 34 mM aqueous solution). In contrast the chromatographic micellar size appeared to be smaller (hydrodynamic radius 15 +/- 1 A; Mr 8000 +/- 1000; aggregation number 27). This underestimation may be the result of adsorption and/or alteration of the micelles.

Lipid peroxidation in Ehrlich ascites cell mitochondria is not determined by the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the membrane

Lipid peroxidation intensity is compared in Ehrlich Ascites Cell and in liver mitochondria, prepared from tumor bearing mice. Malondialdehyde formation is negligible in intact ascites tumour mitochondria, but it is significantly increased in permeabilised mitochondria and in isolated mitochondrial membranes. We suggest that the resistance against oxidative stress is a consequence of efficient protective mechanisms operating in the intact tumour mitochondria and the low level of polyunsaturated fatty acids under these circumstances cannot be the rate limiting factor in lipid peroxidation. Succinate, an effective inhibitor of mitochondrial lipid peroxidation in liver, cannot determine malondialdehyde formation in ascites tumour mitochondria.

An improved procedure for the purification of ethanolaminephosphotransferase. Reconstitution of the purified enzyme with lipids

Ethanolaminephosphotransferase (CDPethanolamine:1,2-diacylglycerol ethanolaminephosphotransferase, EC 2.7.8.1) has been purified in active form from rat brain microsomes by a two-step chromatographic procedure. Enzyme preparations characterized by high specific activity and stability were obtained supplementing the solubilization and elution buffers, containing 1% Triton X-100, with 0.01% 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was about 1200-times higher than that of the crude solubilized enzyme. The lipid dependence of ethanolaminephosphotransferase was studied both in the presence of Triton X-100 and in detergent-free enzyme preparations. The activity of the detergent-solubilized ethanolaminephosphotransferase was strongly modified by phospholipids. The kinetic behaviour of the enzyme was also dependent on the lipids contained in the aggregates obtained by removal of the detergent from detergent/lipid/protein suspensions. A regulatory role of phospholipids on the activity of the membrane-bound ethanolaminephosphotransferase is discussed.

Application of nonionic polyoxyethylene detergents in studies of phosphatidylinositol kinase

Four commercial nonionic polyoxyethylene detergents were compared with Triton X-100 in terms of physicochemical properties and interaction with an integral membrane protein, phosphatidylinositol kinase. Tergitol 15-S-9, Tergitol TMN-10, polyoxyethylene 10 lauryl ether, and polyoxyethylene 10 tridecyl ether possess aliphatic hydrophobic moieties and therefore do not absorb significantly in the ultraviolet region. Like Triton X-100, these detergents have cloud points well above the physiological temperature range and partial specific volumes greater than 0.9 cm3/g. Critical micelle concentrations range from 0.02 to 0.03% with the exception of Tergitol TMN-10, for which the value is about 0.15%. All five detergents support activity of phosphatidylinositol kinase from rat liver in a mixed micellar assay and show similar ionic strength dependences for solubilization of the enzyme. Enzyme/detergent mixed micelles are somewhat smaller with Triton X-100 than for the other detergents. The data presented suggest that these detergents may be generally substituted for Triton X-100 in applications where uv invisibility is important.

Modulation of dolichyl-phosphomannose synthase activity by changes in the lipid environment of the enzyme

Rat liver dolichyl-phosphomannose synthase (GDP mannose-dolicholphosphate mannosyltransferase; EC 2.4.1.83) was previously shown to catalyze optimal rates of mannosyl transfer to dolichyl-P when the polyprenol acceptor was incorporated into a phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) matrix that has a tendency to adopt a nonbilayer (hexagonal HII) phase [Jensen, J. W., & Schutzbach, J. S. (1985) Eur. J. Biochem. 153, 41-48]. The present investigations now further define the properties of the lipid environment that are essential for mannosyltransferase activity. Monogalactosyl diglyceride (MGDG), a glycoglycerolipid that prefers a nonbilayer-phase organization in isolation, was shown to provide a suitable lipid matrix for synthase activity. By comparison, the enzyme was not activated by digalactosyl diglyceride (DGDG), which forms stable bilayer structures upon hydration. Enzyme activity in MGDG/DGDG mixtures decreased as the proportion of DGDG in the dispersion was increased. Although bilayer-forming phospholipids supported low rates of mannosyl transfer, enzyme activity was stimulated by the addition of MGDG to either phosphatidylcholine (PC) or PE/PC (1:1) membranes. The incorporation of agents known to destabilize bilayer structures including dolichols, ubiquinone, dodecane, and cholesterol into PE/PC (1:1) membranes also increased the rate of mannosyl transfer. Enzyme activity in PC membranes was stimulated by the presence of gramicidin and also by greatly increased concentrations of the substrate, dolichyl-P. The results demonstrate that the enzyme does not have a requirement for PE and suggest that the physical state of the lipid matrix is an important determinant for reconstitution of the synthase and polyprenol phosphate substrate in a productive complex. The formation of an enzyme/lipid complex was demonstrated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and could be correlated with the lipid requirements for enzyme activity.

Precipitation of solubilized Na+/K+-ATPase by divalent cations

A method for preparation of membranous fragments of pure and highly active shark rectal gland Na+/K+-ATPase by Mn2+ precipitation of C12E8-solubilized enzyme is described. The method is rapid and inexpensive, and yields enzyme with a specific Na+/K+-ATPase activity of up to 1800 mumol/mg per h at 37 degrees C. The influence of the detergent/protein and lipid/protein ratios on the yield of membrane bound enzyme is described.

Partial purification of the microsomal rat liver iodothyronine deiodinase. II. Affinity chromatography

Iodothyronine deiodinase has been solubilized and purified approximately 2400 times from liver microsomal fractions of male Wistar rats pretreated with thyroxine. The deiodinase was solubilized with 1% cholate, and stripped of adhering phospholipids by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by solubilization with the non-ionic detergent Emulgen 911. The enzyme was further purified by successive ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel and Cellex-P and affinity chromatography on 3,3',5-triiodothyronine-Sepharose. Finally, the deiodinase was reacted with 6-propionyl-2-thiouracil-Sepharose, a derivative of the mechanism-based inhibitor 6-propyl-2-thiouracil. Covalent binding was observed only in the presence of substrate in agreement with the proposed mechanism of deiodination. The deiodinase was eluted from the affinity column by reduction of the enzyme-propylthiouracil mixed disulfide with 50 mM dithiothreitol. The enzyme was approximately 50% pure as judged by SDS-PAGE, exhibiting a subunit molecular weight of 25,000. This preparation was equally enriched in outer ring and inner ring deiodinase activities in keeping with the view that both are intrinsic to a single, type I deiodinase.

Mercurated nucleic acid probes, a new principle for non-radioactive in situ hybridization

This report describes the localization of specific nucleic acid sequences in interphase nuclei and metaphase chromosomes by a new hybridocytochemical method based on the use of mercurated nucleic acid probes. After the hybridization a sulfhydryl-hapten compound is reacted with the hybrids formed. A number of such ligands were synthesized and tested. A fluorescyl ligand could be used for the direct visualization of highly repetitive sequences. For indirect immunocytochemical visualization trinitrophenyl ligands were found to be more sensitive than biotinyl analogues. These ligands were applied for the detection of target sequences in metaphase chromosomes and interphase nuclei of somatic cell hybrids, human lymphoid cell lines and blood cell cultures. The sequences were in the range of high to low copy numbers. The lower limit of sensitivity is indicated by the visualization of two human unique DNA fragments (40 and 15.6 kb) in human metaphases. The method is rapid, gives consistent results and can be used for both RNA and DNA probes. Other potentials of the new principle are discussed.

Purification of NADPH:cytochrome c (cytochrome P-450) reductase from hamster liver microsomes by detergent extraction and affinity chromatography

NADPH:cytochrome c (cytochrome P-450) reductase (Fp) from hamster liver microsomes has been purified to near homogeneity using a simple and rapid method. Microsomes were treated with the detergent Chaps (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propanesulfonic acid) in combination with 0.07% protamine sulfate and then centrifuged to pellet insoluble material. While over 60% of the total microsomal protein was solubilized, all Fp activity remained in the pellet. Fp was extracted from the Chaps-insoluble material using a combination of the detergents sodium cholate and Lubrol PX. This treatment resulted in a fivefold increase in Fp specific activity and allowed direct processing of the enriched Fp fraction by 2',5'-ADP agarose affinity chromatography. The purified Fp had a total flavin content of 23 nmol/mg protein (flavin adenine dinucleotide:flavin mononucleotide ratio = 1:1), a specific activity of 26,000 units/mg protein at 22 degrees C using cytochrome c as electron acceptor, and migrated as a single band on sodium-dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a relative molecular weight of 76,000. The purity, specific activity, and yield were nearly identical to results obtained when the flavoprotein was purified by conventional methods. This procedure eliminates the need for anion-exchange chromatography and allows for the rapid purification of large amounts of Fp suitable for use in studies concerning cytochrome P-450-mediated drug metabolism. Importantly, this method is equally effective when used to purify Fp from rat liver microsomes.

Platelet MAO concentration and molecular activity: I. New methods using an MAO B-specific monoclonal antibody in a radioimmunoassay

New methods for determination of specific concentration and molecular activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in platelets are described and evaluated in parallel with specific activity measures, performed in whole platelets and platelet extracts. Platelet MAO specific concentration is determined in platelet extracts by a radioimmunoassay, using a monoclonal antibody that recognizes human MAO B, the form that occurs in platelets, but not MAO A. All four platelet MAO measures are found to be reliable and stable, and thus are suitable for long-term comparisons of normal and clinical populations, such as those reported in Part II of this report. The new measures of enzyme concentration and molecular activity make available important information about the state of MAO B molecules in a given individual that reflects the genetic expression and control of the enzyme.

Evidence for structural dissimilarity in the neurotransmitter binding region of purified acetylcholine receptors from human muscle and Torpedo electric organ

Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) purified from human skeletal muscle affinity-alkylated with bromoacetyl[methyl-3H]choline bromide ([3H]BAC) in mildly reducing conditions to yield a specifically radiolabeled polypeptide, Mr 44,000, the alpha-subunit. The binding of [125I]alpha-bungarotoxin to AChR was completely inhibited by affinity-alkylation, indicating that the human AChR's binding site for alpha-bungarotoxin is closely associated with the alpha-subunit's acetylcholine binding site. Structures in the vicinity of the alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites of AChRs from human muscle and Torpedo electric organ were compared by varying the conditions of alkylation. Under optimal conditions of reduction and alkylation, both human and Torpedo AChR incorporated BAC in equivalence to the number of alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites. However, with limited conditions of reduction but sufficient BAC to alkylate 100% of the alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites of human AChR, only 71% of the Torpedo AChR's binding sites were alkylated. In optimal conditions of reduction but with the minimal concentration of BAC that permitted 100% alkylation of the human AChR's alpha-bungarotoxin sites, only 74% of the Torpedo AChR's binding sites were alkylated. These data suggest that the neurotransmitter binding region of human muscle AChR is structurally dissimilar from that of Torpedo electric organ, having a higher binding affinity for BAC and an adjacent disulfide bond that is more readily accessible to reducing agents.