Purification and functional properties of the DCCD-reactive proteolipid subunit of the H+-translocating ATPase from Mycobacterium phlei

The actinobacterial mce4 locus encodes a steroid transporter

Bioinformatic analyses have suggested that Mce proteins in diverse actinobacteria are components of complex ATP-binding cassette transporter systems, comprising more than eight distinct proteins. In Mycobacterium tuberculosis, these proteins are implicated in interactions of this deadly pathogen with its human host. Here, we provide direct evidence that the Mce4 system of Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 is a steroid uptake system. Transcriptional analyses indicate that the system is encoded by an 11-gene operon, up-regulated 4.0-fold during growth on cholesterol versus on pyruvate. Growth of RHA1 on cholesterol and uptake of radiolabeled cholesterol both required expression of genes in the mce4 operon encoding two permeases plus eight additional proteins of unknown function. Cholesterol uptake was ATP-dependent and exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a K(m) of 0.6 +/- 0.1 microm. This uptake system was also essential for growth of RHA1 on beta-sitosterol, 5-alpha-cholestanol, and 5-alpha-cholestanone. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that all mce4 loci in sequenced genomes are linked to steroid metabolism genes. Thus, we predict that all Mce4 systems are steroid transporters. The transport function of the Mce4 system is consistent with proposed roles of cholesterol and its metabolism in the pathogenesis of M. tuberculosis.

Role of lipids in calcification of cartilage

This review addresses the role of lipids and membranes in biologic calcification and examines their regulation during endochondral ossification. The close association of lipids with mineral deposition has been well established. Early observations indicated that lipids, particularly phospholipids, can not be totally extracted from calcified tissues until the tissues are decalcified. Phospholipids associated with mineral are also enriched in extracellular membrane vesicles, called matrix vesicles. Numerous studies indicate that mineral deposits in calcifying cartilage are first seen in these phosphatidylserine and alkaline phosphatase enriched vesicles and that the process of endochondral calcification of epiphyseal growth plate is possibly mediated by them. Matrix vesicles, and the phospholipids present in them, appear to be involved in initial formation of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals via the interaction of calcium and phosphate ions with phosphatidylserine to form phospholipid:Ca:Pi complexes (CPLX). CPLX is present in tissues which are undergoing initial mineral deposition but are absent from nonmineralizing tissues. Evidence suggests that CPLX resides in the interior of matrix vesicles where the earliest mineral crystals are formed in association with the vesicle membrane. More recently, it has been determined that specific membrane proteins, called proteolipids, participate in CPLX formation and hydroxyapatite deposition, in part by structuring phosphatidylserine in an appropriate conformation. Phosphatidylserine involvement in the initiation of mineralization has been extensively investigated because of its extremely high binding affinity for Ca2+. In addition to structuring a specific phospholipid environment, proteolipids may also act as ionophores, promoting export of protons and import of calcium and phosphate, both requirements of biologic calcification.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bacterial adenosine 5'-triphosphate synthase (F1F0): purification and reconstitution of F0 complexes and biochemical and functional characterization of their subunits

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Characteristics and functions of Na-K-Cl cotransport in epithelial tissues

This review summarizes our present understanding of Na-K-Cl cotransport and its physiological role in absorption and secretion of electrolytes and water in epithelial tissues. In the past several years an extensive literature about this cotransporter has developed due to its widespread distribution in a variety of cell types and its essential role in fluid and electrolyte transport in several epithelial tissues. We summarize this literature and speculate on the future characterization of this transport system. Although this review focuses on cotransport as it relates to absorptive and secretory processes in epithelia, important information concerning the pharmacology, stoichiometry, and regulation of Na-K-Cl cotransport in nonepithelial systems (i.e., erythrocytes, fibroblasts, squid axon, etc.) has been included to supplement areas that are less well established in the epithelial literature.

Studies on the mechanism of action of local anesthetics on proton translocating ATPase from Mycobacterium phlei

We have measured the inhibitory potencies of local anesthetics (procaine, lidocaine, tetracaine and dibucaine) on ATP-mediated H+-translocation, Ca2+-transport and ATPase activity in membrane vesicles from Mycobacterium phlei. Procaine and lidocaine up to 1 mM concentration did not inhibit ATP-dependent H+-translocation, Ca2+-transport and ATPase activity. However, tetracaine and dibucaine at 0.2 mM concentration caused dissipation of the proton gradient, measured by the reversal of the quenching of fluorescence of quinacrine, and inhibition of active Ca2+-transport. Tetracaine (1 mM) inhibited membrane-bound ATPase activity without affecting solubilized F1-ATPase activity. Studies show that these local anesthetics do not prevent the inactivation of F0-F1 ATPase by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD). Binding of [14C]DCCD to F0-proteolipid component remained unchanged in the presence of tetracaine indicating that DCCD and tetracaine do not share common binding sites on the F0-proteolipid sector. The inhibition of H+-translocation and membrane-bound ATPase activity by tetracaine was substantially additive in the presence of vanadate.