The reaction of aldolase with 2-methylmaleic anhydride

Protein reactivity of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde, a toxic dopamine metabolite, is dependent on both the aldehyde and the catechol

Dopamine (DA) has been implicated as an endogenous neurotoxin to explain selective neurodegeneration, as observed for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, previous work demonstrated that 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) was more toxic than DA. DOPAL is generated as a part of DA catabolism via the activity of monoamine oxidase, and the mechanism of DOPAL toxicity is proposed to involve protein modification. Previous studies have demonstrated protein reactivity via the aldehyde moiety; however, DOPAL contains two reactive functional groups (catechol and aldehyde), both with the potential for protein adduction. The goal of this work was to determine whether protein modification by DOPAL occurs via a thiol-reactive quinone generated from oxidation of the catechol, which is known to occur for DA, or if the aldehyde forms adducts with amine nucleophiles. To accomplish this objective, the reactivity of DOPAL toward N-acetyl-lysine (NAL), N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), and two model proteins was determined. In addition, several DOPAL analogues were obtained and used for comparison of reactivity. Results demonstrate that at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C, the order of DOPAL reactivity is NAL >> NAC and the product of NAL and DOPAL is stable in the absence of reducing agent. Moreover, DOPAL will react with model proteins, but in the presence of amine-selective modifiers citraconic anhydride and 2-iminothiolane hydrochloride, the reactivity of DOPAL toward the proteins is diminished. In addition, DOPAL-mediated protein cross-linking is observed when a model protein or a protein mixture (i.e., mitochondria lysate) is treated with DOPAL at concentrations of 5-100 microM. Protein cross-linking was diminished in the presence of ascorbate, suggesting the involvement of a quinone in DOPAL-mediated protein modification. These data indicate that DOPAL is highly reactive toward protein nucleophiles with the potential for protein cross-linking.

Purification and characterization of the valine sensitive acetolactate synthase from Serratia marcescens ATCC 25419

The valine sensitive acetolactate synthase (ALS) isozyme from Serratia marcescens ATCC 25419 was purified to homogeneity. Analysis of the native molecular weight of the purified enzyme by the native pore gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated the molecular weight of about 178,000 and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed the enzyme to be composed of two different types of subunits with molecular weights of 62,000 and 35,000. The molar ratio of the two polypeptides was estimated to be 1, suggesting that native enzyme is composed of two large subunits and two small subunits. The enzyme exhibits homotropic allosterism with pyruvate unlike other enteric ALS isozymes. The specificity ratio R (V[acetohydroxybutyrate]/V[acetolactate] = R.[alpha-ketobutyrate]/pyruvate]), of the enzyme was found to be 0 suggesting that the Serratia ALS has very high specificity for pyruvate. The pH optimum was around 7.5, and the enzyme was stable at 50 degrees C for 30 min. The pI value for the purified enzyme was 5.2. The concentration of branched chain amino acids for 50% inhibition of the enzyme was 0.1 mM for valine, and 1 mM for leucine and isoleucine, respectively.

The interaction of troponin C with phosphofructokinase. Comparison with calmodulin

Phosphofructokinase (PFK) is a calmodulin (CaM)-binding protein [Mayr & Heilmeyer (1983) FEBS Lett. 195, 51-57]. We found that troponin C (TnC), which is homologous to CaM, also binds PFK and affects PFK's catalytic activity, aggregation states and conformational changes as CaM does in most cases. PFK titration of N-acetylaminoethyl-5-naphthylamido-1-sulphonate ('AEDANS')-TnC showed that its apparent dissociation constant is comparable with that of PFK-CaM. Fluorescent labels were also used to probe contact regions on TnC and CaM. It is likely that the C-terminal end of the connecting strand of the TnC molecule is close to PFK in the binary complex. Hydrophobic regions of TnC and CaM also possibly play roles in the binding and polymerization of PFK. TnC and CaM deactivate PFK through accelerating PFK conformational change as well as through accelerating PFK tetramer dissociation, as implied in the results of activity, light-scattering, fluorescence and c.d. experiments. The intact molecule of CaM appears to be required to deactivate PFK, because neither half of the CaM molecule has an effect on PFK activity.

Amino acid sequence of the monomer subunit of the giant extracellular hemoglobin of the aquatic oligochaete, Tubifex tubifex

The extracellular hemoglobin of the aquatic oligochaete Tubifex tubifex consists of four subunits: a monomer of 16.5 kDa, a disulfide-bonded trimer of about 50 kDa and at least two subunits of about 30 kDa. The complete amino acid sequence of the monomeric subunit was determined: it consists of 141 amino acid residues and has a molecular mass of 16,286 Da including a heme group. 39 residues (28%) were found to be identical with those in the corresponding positions in the monomeric globin chains from Lumbricus terrestris, Pheretima sieboldi, and Tylorrhynchus heterochaetus. Tubifex and Lumbricus are most similar, with 75 amino acid identities (53%). There are eight invariant residues amongst these monomeric globins and the intracellular monomeric globin of Glycera and the human beta-globin. The monomeric globin from Tubifex aligns best with those of group A, globins which have a Cys in their second position and an invariant Lys-Val-Lys at positions 9-11 [Gotoh et al. (1987) Biochem. J. 241, 441-445]. The two cysteine residues, at positions 2 and 131, appear to be disulfide-bonded.

Dicarboxylic acid anhydrides as dissociating agents of protein-containing structures

Dissociation of protein-containing structures by modification of protein amino groups with dicarboxylic acid anhydrides is a mild procedure which, in some cases, offers advantages over treatment with alternative dissociating agents, such as urea, guanidine hydrochloride, detergents, high ionic strength, and extremes of pH. In addition to dissociating multimeric proteins and protein aggregates, dicarboxylic acid anhydrides are effective dissociating agents for membrane-bound proteins and nucleoprotein particles. With most dicarboxylic acid anhydrides reviewed, the introduced reagent residues can be eliminated under moderate acid conditions, which allows the purification of unmodified individual components, and the use of diassembly-reconstitution systems valuable for investigating the structural and functional roles played by the individual components of complex particles. Each reagent can be suitable for a particular purpose, depending on the required specificity of the modification and stability of the modified groups. The stability of the acylated amino groups ranges from the very stable succinylated amino groups to the very labile acylation obtained with dimethylmaleic anhydride. Between these extremes, the stability of the modified amino groups decreases stepwise in the following order: maleic, exo-cis-3,6-endoxo-delta 4-tetrahydrophthalic, citraconic, and 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride. With respect to the selectivity of the produced modification, little or no modification of hydroxyamino acid and cysteine residues has been observed with dimethylmaleic, exo-cis-3,6-endoxo-delta 4-tetrahydrophthalic, and 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalic anhydrides. With the other reagents, the extent of modification of hydroxyamino acid residues increases in the order citraconic, maleic and succinic anhydride. Citraconic and maleic anhydrides can produce irreversible modification of cysteine residues, the reactivity of sulfhydryl groups being higher with maleic anhydride.

Elastin metabolism during recovery from impaired crosslink formation

Accelerated proteolysis of tropoelastin and elastin occurs in the arteries of chicks rendered nutritionally copper-deficient. The process results in part from decreased elastin crosslinking. Repletion of copper-deficient chicks with copper causes a deposition of elastin that is proteinase resistant. Resistance to proteolysis is conferred within 48 h of dietary copper repletion. Deposition of aorta elastin to near normal values occurs after 3-4 days in copper-repleted chicks. Moreover, elastolysis was enhanced when the content of dehydrolysinonorleucine in elastin was abnormally low. The chemical modification of lysyl residue in elastin by citroconylation, however, did not influence the rate of elastolysis. We have shown previously that tropoelastin messenger RNA activity and synthesis are not influenced by dietary copper deprivation (1986, Biochem. J. 236, 17-23). Rather, as demonstrated herein, the decrease in elastin content in arteries of copper-deficient birds appears to be more the result of enhanced degradation. Restoration of normal crosslinking restores deposition and imparts resistance to elastolysis. Moreover, serum appears to be a good source of elastolytic proteinases when the elastin substrate is partially or abnormally crosslinked.

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase from Drosophila melanogaster: primary structure analysis, secondary structure prediction, and comparison with vertebrate aldolases

The amino acid sequence of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase from Drosophila melanogaster was determined and was compared with those of five vertebrate aldolases on record. The four identical polypeptide chains of the insect enzyme, acetylated at the N-terminus and three residues shorter than the vertebrate chains, contain 360 amino acid residues. Of these 190 (or 53%) are identical in all six enzymes and in addition 33 positions (or 9%) are occupied by homologous residues. Comparison with the muscle-type isoaldolases from man and rabbit and the liver-type isoaldolases from man, rat, and chicken indicates an average sequence identity of 70 and 63%, respectively. Thus, the insect and the vertebrate muscle aldolases are probably coded by orthologous genes. On this basis an average rate of evolution of 3.0 PAM per 10(8) years is calculated, documenting an evolutional divergence slower than that of cytochrome c (4.2 PAM/10(8) years). The rate is also lower than that of the liver isoform (3.6 PAM/10(8) years). Secondary structure prediction analysis for Drosophila aldolase suggests the occurrence of 11-12 helical segments and 8-9 beta-strands. The conspicuous alternation of these structures in all six aldolases, especially in the C-terminal 200 residues, is consistant with the formation of an alpha beta-barrel supersecondary structure as documented for several other glycolytic enzymes.

Immobilized colipase affinities for lipases B, A, C and their terminal peptide (336-449): the lipase recognition site lysine residues are located in the C-terminal region

Zonal high-performance affinity chromatography has been used in order to study the interactions between pig isolipases A, B and C and the terminal peptide chain fragment 336-449 of the pig lipase on the one hand, and the homolog colipase bound to the inert LiChrosorb diol support on the other. A mathematical treatment led the to assessment of the dissociation constant of the lipase-colipase complex using isolipases or the terminal peptide as eluted acceptors and colipase as silica-bound ligand (Mahé, N., Léger, C.L., Linard, A. and Alessandri, J.-M. (1987) J. Chromatogr. 395, 511-521). A higher affinity of isolipase B as compared to isolipases A and C towards colipase was observed (KD, respectively, of 0.68, 11 and 12 microM) at pH 6.5. Under the same chromatographic conditions, the terminal peptide chain interacted with the bound colipase (KD 0.70 microM, close to that of isolipase B). The chromatographic behaviors of both native and chemically modified lipase and terminal peptide were very similar. In particular, guanidination of lysine residues of both peptide and isolipase B led to the loss of interactions with colipase. The same result was observed with the peptide preincubated in the presence of increasing amounts of free colipase. Accordingly, it is suggested that, firstly, a preferential association of isolipase B to colipase could take place and, secondly, the colipase recognition site of lipase could be located in the C-terminal region, the conformational structure of the terminal peptide not being affected by the enzymic cleavage and, therefore, being largely independent of the rest of the polypeptide molecule. On the other hand, a lower colipase affinity for isolipases A or C than for isolipase B or the C-terminal peptide could tentatively be attributed to a non-local (distant) disturbing effect of the negatively charged glycan chain, as sialic acid is present in both isoforms A and C. Finally, the present paper confirms and extends earlier studies on lipase-colipase interactions.

High-affinity fluorescent peptide binding to I-Ad in lipid membranes

Membranes isolated from antigen-pulsed, antigen-presenting cells were extensively dialyzed and shown to retain the ability to present antigen to an I-Ad-restricted, antigen-specific T cell, 3DO-54.8. This ability to retain antigen on the membrane was duplicated in lysates of antigen-presenting cells as well as with pure I-A molecules in phospholipid vesicles. Measurement of the concentration of surface-associated fluorescent peptide on planar membranes prepared from antigen-pulsed phospholipid vesicles showed that about 1 peptide molecule was retained per 100 I-A molecules. We calculate that about 1000 I-A-associated peptide molecules are sufficient to stimulate the response of a single 3DO-54.8 cell. The association of fluorescent peptide with the surface depended on the presence of I-A and was blocked by unlabeled ovalbumin peptide or by a digest of hen egg lysozyme, added at the time of the pulse, but not after pulsing.

Hormone-like activity of human thrombin

Recently, we have shown that thrombin is a chemotaxin and growth-promoting agent for cells of the mononuclear phagocytic lineage. These activities are independent of thrombin's enzymatic activity. Unlike other chemotactic factors, thrombin is specific for monocytes and does not attract granulocytes. To further explore the cellular specificity we have used a human leukemia cell line HL-60 that is capable of in vitro differentiation toward either monocytes (HL-60/mono) following incubation with 1,25(OH)2D3, or granulocytes (HL-60/gran) following incubation with DMSO. In contrast to undifferentiated HL-60 cells or HL-60/gran, we find that HL-60/mono respond chemotactically to intact human alpha-thrombin, esterolytically inactive iPR2P-alpha-thrombin, and the thrombin-derived peptide CB67-129, previously shown to contain the thrombin chemotactic exosite. In addition, thrombin induces in HL-60/mono association of actin with the cytoskeleton and causes an increase in levels of free cytosolic Ca2+. These phenomena are well characterized as early events occurring concomitant with directed cell movement associated with exposure to chemotactic agents such as FMLP. Furthermore, in contrast to fibroblasts, both iPR2P-alpha-thrombin and the thrombin chemotactic peptide CB67-129 evoke dose-dependent [3H]TdR incorporation, protein synthesis, and cell replication in growth-arrested J-744 cells, a murine macrophage-like cell line. Limited tryptic digests of CB67-129 lose chemotactic activity but retain full mitogenic activity, demonstrating that as with PDGF, the sites on CB67-129 required for chemotaxis and mitogenesis are clearly dissociable. The mitogenic effects of the CB67-129 digest can be mimicked by a synthetic tetradecapeptide analogue of CB67-129 (residues 367-380) that includes the loop B insertion sequence, previously shown to be critical for thrombin's chemotactic effects. From these data, it is apparent that the loop B insertion is critical for thrombin's nonenzymic biological effects on cells, but additional sites are required for stimulation of cell movement.

Identification of subsidiary catalytic groups at the active site of beta-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase by covalent modification of the protein

beta-Ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (acyl-CoA:acetyl-CoA C-acyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.16) is known to possess sulfhydryl groups of cysteines at the active site that are essential for its catalytic activity. Other groups at the active site that participate in the catalytic process were identified by using anhydride reagents which covalently modify the protein by specifically reacting with any amino groups potentially present at the active site. Since these reagents may also react with thiol groups, the enzyme's amino groups were modified after masking the cysteine thiols present by an alkylalkane thiosulfonate-type reagent, methyl methanethiol-sulfonate (MMTS), that selectively formed a disulfide bridge, thus generating an inactive thiolmethylated enzyme. When this procedure was followed, the enzyme could be undoubtedly modified at its amino by the anhydride reagent, leading to a doubly modified protein. The thiomethyl group could then be removed by reduction with dithiothreitol, yielding an enzyme modified solely on the amino residues. The amino group could be unblocked in turn by exposure to acidic pH. The different anhydrides inactivated thiolase, but only acetoacetyl coenzyme A (AcAcCoA) provided any protection against inactivation. When thiolmethylcitraconyl thiolase was reduced with dithiothreitol the enzyme remained inactive, but when the doubly modified enzyme was exposed to pH 5 then the reduction led to formation of an active enzyme. These results are interpreted as demonstrating a role for an amino group at the enzyme active site. A catalytic mechanism is proposed for the enzyme which involves the amino group.

Amyloid fibrils in hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis of Icelandic type is a variant of gamma-trace basic protein (cystatin C)

A gamma-trace variant protein is the major constituent of the amyloid fibrils in patients from Iceland with hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis. The protein consists of 110 residues and is similar to human urinary gamma-trace basic protein (or cystatin C) beginning at its 11th amino-terminal residue. It has an amino acid substitution (glutamine for leucine) at position 58 (position 68 in gamma-trace numbering), which is near the proposed active site of related proteins--namely, cysteine protease inhibitors and kininogens. It is postulated that a point mutation has occurred, leading to the production of an unusual protein that is abnormally degraded, bound, and/or precipitated. Alternatively, gamma-trace basic protein may be genetically polymorphic, and the variant described here may represent an as-yet-undiscovered isotype or an allelic form that is linked to, but not responsible for, the deposition disease. Our data on the structure of a gamma-trace variant protein suggests that its gene expresses a polyprotein precursor in which active peptides are flanked by basic amino acid residues that permit cleavage to liberate small internal peptides. It is likely that the nucleotide sequence coding for Arg-Xaa and Lys-Xaa repeated several times in the molecule may function as alternative splicing sites for mRNA processing.

Identification of a thrombin sequence with growth factor activity on macrophages

In contrast to fibroblasts, the exposure of G0/G1-arrested J774 cells, a murine macrophage-like tumor cell line, with either active or esterolytically inactive diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate-conjugated alpha-thrombin (the enzymatically active form of thrombin, EC 3.4.21.5) results in a mitogenic response as measured by increased [3H]thymidine incorporation. This response to thrombin is optimal at 10 nM and is specifically blocked by hirudin, a high-affinity thrombin inhibitor. When prethrombin 1 [a single-chain prothrombin derivative lacking fragment 1, resulting from the action of thrombin on prothrombin] is cleaved with cyanogen bromide, a fragment (peptide CB67-129) is produced that, like the parent thrombin molecule, is mitogenic for J774 cells but not for fibroblasts. Limited tryptic digests of this fragment retain the ability to stimulate macrophages--a function that can be mimicked by a synthetic tetradecapeptide homologue of CB67-129 (representing residues 367-380 of the human thrombin B chain sequence) but not by any of a series of well-known growth promoters, including platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, nerve growth factor, and fibroblast epidermal growth factor, nerve growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor. The mitogenic effects of this peptide are not limited to J774 cells but can be expressed in other macrophage-like tumor cell lines, including P388D1, RAW, and PU5. In addition to increased [3H]thymidine incorporation, the synthetic B chain peptide stimulates cell proliferation as evidenced by a dose-dependent increase in total protein per culture well and cell number. We conclude that the thrombin molecule contains a macrophage growth factor domain that is separate and distinct from its active center. Thus, thrombin, in addition to its major role in hemostasis and thrombosis, may also have important functions in such basic processes as the inflammatory response and monocytopoiesis.

Peptidyl transferase centres of rat and yeast ribosomes. Different response to modification of protein amino groups

Modification of rat liver ribosomes with dimethylmaleic anhydride, a reagent for protein amino groups, causes a large stimulation of peptidyl transferase activity assayed by the "fragment" reaction, as well as the inactivation of poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis. In contrast to rat ribosomes, the peptidyl transferase of yeast ribosomes is little affected by modification. Although other interpretations are not excluded, these results might be due to differences between the peptidyl transferase centres of mammalian and yeast ribosomes.

The reaction of citraconic anhydride with bovine alpha-crystallin lysine residues. Surface probing and dissociation-reassociation studies

Citraconic anhydride reacts readily with alpha-crystallin's lysine residues at pH 7.4. Upon addition of 2 equivalents of citraconic anhydride per equivalent lysine, 24% of the lysine residues were modified without disrupting the native quaternary structure. Further citraconylation led to dissociation into 10 S aggregates. Complete dissociation into subunits (1.4 S) occurred after adding 100 equivalents of citraconic anhydride, resulting in 98% modification. Decitraconylation did not lead to reaggregates identical with the native ones. The unmodified and the once and twice citraconylated alpha-crystallin subunits were discerned by isoelectric focusing according to their theoretical isoelectric points. In the native alpha-crystallin aggregates, nearly all B chains and approx. 60% of the A chains were found to possess at least one surface-exposed lysine residue. No differences between the susceptibilities to citraconylation of the in vivo deamidated (A1 and B1) and the de novo synthesized (A2 and B2) subunits were found. These results support the three-layer spherical assembly model for the alpha-crystallin quaternary structure.

Amino acid sequence of an invertebrate FBP aldolase (from Drosophila melanogaster)

The complete amino acid sequence of FBP aldolase from Drosophila melanogaster has been determined. The enzyme contains four identical subunits of 360 amino acid residues. The primary structure of the monomer was established using automated Edman degradation on fragments prepared by CNBr-cleavage, by partial acid cleavage at the unique Asp-Pro bond and by oxidative cleavage at the three tryptophan residues. Manual Edman-Chang degradation was used on smaller peptides obtained by digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, trypsin or chymotrypsin. The primary structure of Drosophila aldolase exhibits very extensive homology with the sequence of rabbit muscle aldolase (71% identity), thus explaining the early observation that Drosophila and mammalian aldolases form active interspecies hybrid quaternary structures (Brenner-Holzach, O. and Leuthardt, F., Eur. J. Biochem. (1972) 31, 423-426).

Antigen presentation by supported planar membranes containing affinity-purified I-Ad

I-Ad, purified from A20-1.11 cells by affinity chromatography, was incorporated into supported planar membranes by incubation of I-Ad-containing phospholipid vesicles with clean glass coverslips. Such planar membranes present a peptide digest of ovalbumin to the ovalbumin-specific, I-Ad-restricted T-cell hybridoma 3DO-54.8, resulting in the antigen-specific release of interleukin 2. However, when the same material was provided in the form of small unilamellar vesicles, no response was obtained. Antigen presentation by the I-Ad-containing planar membranes was inhibited by the monoclonal antibody MKD6 (anti-I-Ad) but not by the antibody 10-2.16 (anti-I-Ak). The antibody GK1.5, which recognizes the T-cell surface antigen L3T4, was also inhibitory. In contrast to the results with purified I-Ad, crude membrane preparations from A20-1.11 cells were effective in antigen presentation in both planar and vesicular forms.

Localization of a chemotactic domain in human thrombin

The cyanogen bromide fragment CB67-129 of human prethrombin 1, corresponding to residues 54-116 of the thrombin B chain, is a potent chemotaxin for human peripheral blood monocytes and the murine macrophage like cell line, J774. Both of these cell types have been shown to respond chemotactically to alpha-thrombin and iPr2P-alpha-thrombin. Effective concentrations for stimulating directed cell movement with the fragment vary from 10(-11) to 10(-7) M. Moreover, CB67-129 and its parent protein compete for the same chemotactic receptor site. Fragment CB67-129, representing residues 54-116 of the human thrombin B chain sequence, contains a nine-residue insertion ("loop B") that is absent in homologous sequences derived from the closely related proteases chymotrypsin and trypsin. Unlike iPr2P-alpha-thrombin, iPr2P derivatives of these latter enzymes possess little or no chemotactic activity, suggesting a relationship between the insertion sequence and thrombin chemotactic activity. The loop B sequence is unique insofar as it contains all of the carbohydrate moieties known to reside in alpha-thrombin. However, chemotactic activity is only minimally reduced subsequent to hydrolysis by both neuraminidase and beta-galactosidase, indicating that receptor recognition and stimulated cell movement are mainly a function of structure of the cyanogen bromide derived fragment rather than of asparagine-linked carbohydrates.

Effects of temperature and pH on the regeneration of the amino groups of ovalbumin after modification with citraconic and dimethylmaleic anhydrides

The reagents citraconic and dimethylmaleic anhydrides modify the amino groups of proteins in a reversible way, the modified amino groups being regenerated at moderate acid pH. To use these reagents efficiently it is important to know the stabilities of the modifed groups under different experimental conditions. We have studied the kinetics of deacylation of ovalbumin amino groups modified with citraconic and dimethylmaleic anhydrides, under different conditions of temperature (0-40 degrees C) and pH (4-8). The deacylation of the modified groups follows pseudo-first-order kinetics under all experimental conditions studied. For both reagents, the dependence of the rate of deacylation on temperature obeys the Arrhenius equation, and the logarithm of the apparent deacylation constant shows a linear dependence on pH. From the experimental data, equations have been obtained for both reagents relating the deacylation constant with temperature and pH. These equations allow the calculation of the deacylation constant and the half-life of the modified groups for any conditions of temperature and pH within the experimental intervals studied.

Mapping of the antigenic determinants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAK polar pili

The polar pili of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are flexible filaments 5.2 nm in diameter and 2.5 microns in average length. They consist of a single subunit, pilin, which is a 144-residue polypeptide containing a hydrophobic N-terminal region (residues 1 to 30) and eight hydrophilic regions distributed throughout the remainder of the molecule. To delineate the antigenic regions of pilin, we cleaved the protein at Arg30, Arg53, and Arg120 to produce peptides TCI (residues 1 to 30), TCII (31 to 53), TCIII (54 to 120), and TCIV (121 to 144). TCIII and TCIV were further cleaved into several subfragments. The purified peptides were coupled to bovine serum albumin by using the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of 4-azidobenzoic acid and were then subjected to immunological analysis, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot procedures with polyclonal antiserum. Four antigenic regions were identified; one in TCI was found to be common to both PAK and PAO pilin. The remaining three were found to be specific to PAK pilin. Two of these were subfragments of TCIII, whereas the third was located close to the C-terminus of the molecule, most likely between Cys129 and Cys142. Modification of these cysteines by reduction and carboxymethylation of the disulfide linkage did not abolish the antigenicity of the C-terminal type-specific antigenic determinant.

Citrate synthase from a Gram-positive bacterium. Purification and characterization of the Bacillus megaterium enzyme

Citrate synthase was purified to homogeneity from a Gram-positive bacterium (Bacillus megaterium) for the first time. The Mr of the native enzyme was determined to be 84 000 (S.E.M. +/- 5000). Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and gel filtration in guanidinium chloride revealed a single protein species of Mr 40 300 (S.E.M. +/- 4400), indicating a dimeric enzyme. This dimeric structure was confirmed by cross-linking the native enzyme with dimethyl suberimidate and with glutaraldehyde, followed by electrophoretic analysis. The enzyme follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to both substrates, acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate, and is sensitive to non-specific inhibition by a range of adenine nucleotides. In both molecular and catalytic properties the citrate synthase closely resembles the enzyme from eukaryotic sources and contrasts markedly with the larger, hexameric, enzyme from Gram-negative bacteria.

A critical role of lysine residues in the stimulation of tissue plasminogen activator by denatured proteins and fibrin clots

Two-chain 70 000-dalton plasminogen activator of tissue origin displays only weak activity toward plasminogen in a two-component system. The rate of activation is enhanced a minimum of 50-fold by the presence of fibrin clots or denatured proteins. The stimulation must depend on both chemical determinants and spatial configuration, since native proteins, including fibrinogen, lack significant stimulatory activity. These studies employed chemical modifications of four stimulatory proteins (fibrin, denatured fibrinogen, denatured IgG and denatured ovalbumin) to identify a critical role for lysine residues. Arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, cystine, glutamic acid, histidine, methionine, tyrosine and tryptophan were found not to be essential. The critical spatial determinant(s) remain(s) unknown.

Lens plasma membrane: isolation and biochemical characterization

Lens plasma membrane from different animal lenses has been prepared by the acylation procedure. Using three different criteria: heat aggregation of intrinsic membrane polypeptides, immunochemistry and solubilization of intrinsic proteins at low (40 mM) LIS concentration, it has been shown that these preparations are essentially free of cytoplasmic contaminants. Using the results obtained with acylated membrane as the reference of purity, it has been shown that both sucrose gradient centrifugation of bovine WI protein and urea washing of old human lenses give impure membrane preparations. The main intrinsic polypeptides (mol. wt 26 000 and 22 000) of human lens membrane have been purified and characterized. It has been shown by enzymatic digestion and amino terminal analysis of the residual membrane-bound fragments that the amino terminal halves of the polypeptides are embedded in the lipid bilayer and are probably blocked at their amino terminal sites. Lipid analyses of human and bovine lens membranes suggest that the protein to total lipid ratio is 1:1. Carbohydrate analyses of chromatographically separated intrinsic membrane polypeptides indicate the presence of 1 mol glucose/1 mol protein.

The cell surface of Plasmodium gallinaceum sporozoites: microelectrophoretic and lectin-binding characteristics

The cell surface properties of Plasmodium gallinaceum sporozoites have been investigated by means of microelectrophoretic and lectin-binding studies. Their electrophoretic mobility has been measured as a function of pH, the results suggesting qualitative and quantitative differences in the surface ionogenic groups between sporozoites from mature oocysts and those from salivary glands. Reaction of sporozoites with citraconic anhydride produced a small but significant increase in mobility, whereas 5,5-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic) acid had no effect on mobility; thus there appear to be amino groups but not -SH groups at the surface of sporozoites. Treatment of sporozoites with trypsin considerably reduced their mobility and suggests that a significant proportion of the cell surface charge is associated with protein. Incubation with neuraminidase, however, had no effect on sporozoite mobility and indicates that sialic acid residues, responsible for much of the negative charge associated with mammalian cells, are probably not present on the cell surface of sporozoites. Evidence for the presence of carbohydrates on the cell surface membrane of sporozoites was sought using fluorescein isothiocyanate-Concanavalin A. Results demonstrated that ligands similar to alpha-D-glucose and alpha-D-mannose are not present in an exposed or reactive form on the cell surface membrane of P. gallinaceum sporozoites.

Glutathione reductase from human erythrocytes: amino-acid sequence of the structurally known FAD-binding domain

Glutathione reductase (Mr 2 x 52 500), a flavoenzyme of known three-dimensional structure, catalyses the reduction of glutathione disulfide by NADPH. This paper describes the primary structure of the FAD-binding domain which ranges from AcAla-1 to Gly-157. The three CNBr-produced fragments (69, 10 and 80 residues) of the domain were fractionated further by enzymatic and chemical methods; isolated peptides were sequenced mainly by automatic solid-phase Edman degradation. The tryptic peptides were overlapped by chymotryptic peptides. A fragment which results from cleavage at the acid-labile bond between Asp-135 and Pro-136 supplied peptides for overlapping the CNBr-produced fragments. In addition, many peptides were ordered and overlapped by computerized comparison with a complete sequence guessed from the electron density map. With one exception the computer method and the chemical alignment gave the same results. The sequence data are discussed in the light of the secondary and tertiary structure (Schulz et al. (1978) Nature (Lond.) 273, 120--124]. The 17 N-terminal residues are not visible in the electron density map. Consequently our numbering scheme differs from that of Schulz et al. by approximately 20 residues. Acetylation of the N terminus and an unusual composition of the following residues may serve to protect the loose N-terminal section of the protein against proteolysis in situ. The four cysteinyl residues of the FAD domain are of special interest. Cys-2 at the tip of the N-terminal extension is likely to be involved in the aggregation behaviour of glutathione reductase. Cys-58 and Cys-63 (formerly Cys-41 and Cys-46) represent the enzyme's redox-active dithiol. Cys-90 with its location at the twofold axis forms a disulfide bridge with Cys-90 of the other peptide chain of the enzyme. This might be related to the fact that both peptide chains contribute to each of the two active centers. In view of the interchain disulfide bridge glutathione reductase should be regarded as a monomeric protein. The sequence of the FAD-binding domain was compared with the sequence of the NADPH-binding domain of glutathione reductase using a computer program. As discussed, the scarcity of sequence similarities does not argue against the assumption that the two nucleotide-binding domains of glutathione reductase originated by gene duplication. The pyrophosphate moiety of FAD binds to a part of the polypeptide chain which in geometric structure, in topology and in sequence resembles the phosphate loops of other nucleotide-binding proteins and of flavodoxin. Using the phosphate loop as a reference, the N-terminal sequence of five flavoproteins can be aligned. The results of Williams et al. on the sequence of lipoamide dehydrogenase (EC 1.6.4.3) and our data on glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) show clearly that these two mechanistically similar enzymes possess homologous structures.

Induction of a novel long-chain acyl-CoA hydrolase in rat liver by administration of peroxisome proliferators

The activity of long-chain acyl-CoA hydrolase in rat liver was increased by the administration of peroxisome proliferators, such as ethyl p-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate or acetylsalicylic acid. The induced activity was mainly confined in the soluble fluid after the subcellular fractionation. The enzyme was purified nearly to homogeneity from livers of rats treated with di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate. The specific activity of the final preparation was 247 mumol palmitoyl-CoA hydrolyzed min-1 mg protein-1. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was estimated to be 150 000 by gel filtration and that of the subunits was 41 000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The activity of the enzyme was not increased but inhibited by bovine serum albumin or Triton X-100. The molecular and catalytic properties of the enzyme suggest that the induced enzyme was different from mitochondrial and microsomal long-chain acyl-CoA hydrolyses in liver.

Reversible modification of lysine in beta-lactoglobulin using citraconic anhydride. Effects on the sulfhydryl groups

Acylation of lysine in beta-lactoglobulin-B with citraconic anhydride resulted in a loss of free sulfhydryl groups. These were not regenerated under the conditions used to remove the modifying groups from lysine. Gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the citraconylated and decitraconylated beta-lactoglobulin showed the presence of high molecular weight components. Modification of sulfhydryl groups with N-ethylmaleimide prior to citraconylation prevented the formation of these high molecular weight components. The heterogeneity of the decitraconylated protein was attributed to a combination of intermolecular disulfide bonding of subunits caused by structural changes occurring during lysine modification and to alkylation of free sulfhydryl groups via the citraconyl double bond.

Identification of "buried" lysine residues in two variants of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase specified by R-factors

Two variants of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase which are specified by genes on plasmids found in Gram-negative bacteria were subjected to amidination with methyl acetimidate to determine the relative reactivity of surface lysine residues and to search for unreactive or "buried" amino groups which might contribute to stabilization of the native tetramers. Representative examples of the type-I and type-III variants of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase were found to have one lysine residue each in the native state which appears to be inaccessible to methyl acetimidate. The uniquely unreactive residue of the type-I protein is lysine-136, whereas the lysine that is "buried" in the type-III enzyme is provisonally assigned to residue 38 of the prototype sequence. It is suggested that the lysine residue in each case participates in the formation of an ion pair at the intersubunit interface and that the two amino groups in question occupy functionally equivalent positions in the quaternary structures of their respective enzyme variants. Lysine-136 of type-I enzyme is also uniquely unavailable for modification by citraconic anhydride, a reagent used to disrupt the quaternary structure of the native enzyme. Contrary to expectation, exhaustive citraconylation fails to dissociate the tetramer, but does destroy catalytic activity. Removal of citraconyl groups from modified chloramphenicol acetyltransferase is accompanied by a full region of catalytic activity. Analysis of the rate of hydrolysis of citraconyl groups from the modified tetramer by amidination of unblocked amino groups with methyl [14C]acetamidate reveals difference in lability for several of the ten modified lysine residues. Although the unique stability of the quaternary structure of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase may be due to strong hydrophobic interactions, it is argued that lysine-136 may contribute to stability via the formation of an ion pair at the subunit interface.

The amino-acid sequence of the three smallest CNBr peptides from p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from Pseudomonas fluorescens

After CNBr cleavage of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase from Pseudomonas fluorescens, five peptides and free homoserine were isolated (see preceding paper in this journal). The amino acid sequences of the three smallest peptides, viz. CB3, CB4 and CB5, were determined by automated Edman degradation and analysis of enzymatic subdigests. These peptides form a continuous stretch of 110 residues from the N terminus: (Formula: See Text).

Complete amino acid sequence of the major component myoglobin from the goose-beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris

The complete primary structure of the major component myoglobin from the goose-beaked whale, Ziphius cavirostris, was determined by specific cleavage of the protein to obtain large peptides which are readily degraded by the automatic sequencer. Over 80% of the amino acid sequence was established from the three peptides resulting from the cleavage of the apomyoglobin at its two methionine residues with cyanogen bromide along with the four peptides resulting from the cleavage with trypsin of the citraconylated apomyoglobin at its three arginine residues. Further digestion of the central cyanogen bromide peptide with S. aureus strain V8 protease and the 1,2-cyclohexanedione-treated central cyanogen bromide peptide with trypsin enabled the determination of the remainder of the covalent structure. This myoglobin differs from the cetacean myoglobins determined to date at 12 to 17 positions. These large sequence differences reflect the distant taxonomic relationships between the goose-beaked whale and the other species of Cetacea the myoglobin sequences of which have previously been determined.

Purificaton of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Bacillus stearothermophilus and resolution of its four component polypeptides

1. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was purified from Bacillus stearothermophilus in high yield. The specific activity (about 40nkat/mg of protein) was substantially lower than that of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Escherchia coli (about 570nkat/mg of protein) measured at 30 degrees C under the same conditions. 2. The relative molecular masses of the four types of polypeptide chain i the complex were estimated by means of sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis to be 57 000, 54 000, 42 000 and 36 000 respectively. These polypetide chains showed no evidence of seriously anomalous behavior during tests of electrophoretic mobility. 3. The enzyme complex was resolved into its constituent proteins by means of gelfiltration on Sepharose CL-6B in the presence of 2M-KI, followed by chromatography on hydroxyapatite in the presence of 8M-urea. These harsh conditions were necessary to cause suitable dissociation of the enzyme complex. 4. The amino-acid compositions of the four constituent proteins after resolution were determined and their chain ratios were measured for several preparations of the complex. Some variability was noted between preparations but all samples contained a significant molar excess of the chains thought to contribute the pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 1.2.4.1) activity. 5. From the relative molecular masses and chain ratios of the four constituent proteins, it was calculated that the empirical unit must be repeated at least 50 times to make up the assembled complex. This conclusion is fully consistent with the demonstration by means of electron microscopy of apparent icosahedral symmetry for the Bacillus stearothermophilus complex, implying a 60-fold repeat. The structure stands in sharp contrast with the octahedral symmetry (24-fold repeat) of the Escherichia coli enzyme.

Purification and properties of the D-alanyl-D-alanine carboxypeptidase of Bacillus coagulans NCIB 9365

After solubilisation with urea and the non-ionic detergent Genapol X-100, the membrane-bound DD-carboxypeptidase (UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-tetrapeptidyl-D-alanine alanine-hydrolase, EC 3.4.12.6) of Bacillus coagulans NCIB 9365 was purified to homogeneity, as verified by sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis, by chromatography with an ampicillin-agarose affinity resin and DEAE-cellulose. The properties of the purified DD-carboxypeptidase were similar to those of the membrane-bound enzyme; these include enhancement of activity by divalent cations, Pb2+ and Cd2+ being the most effective. The enzyme also catalysed a simple unnatural model transpeptidation reaction between UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl pentapeptide (donor) and D-alanine or glycine (acceptors). The enzyme consisted of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight (Mr 29 000), considerably lower than values obtained previously for most other DD-carboxypeptidases. However, its molecular weight and its degree of relatedness, as assessed by amino acid composition, were similar to several beta-lactamases.

Primary structure of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase specified by R plasmids

Naturally occurring isolates of chloramphenicol-resistant bacteria commonly synthesise chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.28; CAT) in amounts which are sufficient to account for the resistance phenotype and often harbour plasmids which carry the structural gene for CAT. The findings of CAT in such diverse prokaryotes as Proteus mirabilis, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Streptomyces sp., and a soil Flavobacterium has led to speculation concerning the origin and evolution of the more commonly observed CAT variants specified by plasmids in clinically important bacteria. To provide a more solid basis for studying the evolution and spread of CAT within prokaryotes we chose to determine the complete amino acid sequence of a type I variant of CAT, the variant known to be associated with most F-like plasmids conferring chloramphenicol resistance. The sequence has been determined by combining the results obtained from manual and automated sequential degradation with those obtained by mass spectrometry of peptides generated by enzymatic digestion. The directly determined primary structure is identical with that predicted by the DNA sequence analysis of the chloramphenicol resistance transponson Tn9 known to specify a type I variant of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase.

Extended amino acid sequences around the active-site lysine residue of class-I fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolases from rabbit muscle, sturgeon muscle, trout muscle and ox liver

1. Amino acid sequences covering the region between residues 173 and 248 [adopting the numbering system proposed by Lai, Nakai & Chang (1974) Science 183, 1204-1206] were derived for trout (Salmo trutta) muscle aldolase and for ox liver aldolase. A comparable sequence was derived for residues 180-248 of sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) muscle aldolase. The close homology with the rabbit muscle enzyme was used to align the peptides of the other aldolases from which the sequences were derived. The results also allowed a partial sequence for the N-terminal 39 residues for the ox liver enzyme to be deduced. 2. In the light of the strong homology evinced for these enzymes, a re-investigation of the amino acid sequence of rabbit muscle aldolase between residues 181 and 185 was undertaken. This indicated the presence of a hitherto unsuspected -Ile-Val-sequence between residues 181 and 182 and the need to invert the sequence -Glu-Val- to -Val-Glx- at positions 184 and 185. 3. Comparison of the available amino acid sequences of these enzymes suggested an early evolutionary divergence of the genes for muscle and liver aldolases. It was also consistent with other evidence that the central region of the primary structure of these enzymes (which includes the active-site lysine-227) forms part of a conserved folding domain in the protein subunit. 4. Detailed evidence for the amino acid sequences proposed has been deposited as Suy Lending Division, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies can be obtained on the terms indicated in Biochem. J. (1978) 169, 5.

Studies on the multi-enzyme complex of yeast fatty-acid synthetase. Reversible dissociation and isolation of two polypeptide chains

1. The multi-enzyme complex of fatty acid synthetase, Mr 2300,000, was dissociated by acylation with dimethyl maleic anhydride under conditions which lead to an acylation of about 30% of the epsilon amino groups of lysine. The complete dissociation into the subunits alpha and beta is demonstrated by analytical ultracentrifugation as well as disc gel electrophoresis. 2. This dissociation is reversible. Hydrolysis of the resulting protein dicarboxylic acid monoamides under mildly acidic conditions leads to the unmodified subunits, which can be reconstituted to form a complex displaying about 60% of the original activity. 3. The subunits were isolated by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation and studied for the different partial enzyme activities involved in long-chain fatty acid synthesis: malonyl, palmitoyl and acetyl transferase, enoyl reductase and dehydratase were shown to be exclusive functions of the beta chains of the complex, confirming a pentafunctional role of this subunit.

The VkVI subgroup of rabbit light chains: complete amino acid sequence of a third variable region (K29-213)

The amino acid sequence of the variable region of a rabbit anti-streptococcal A-variant antibody light chain was determined. By using a combination of different cleavage methods, the sequence was established. Large peptides were sequenced in an extensively modified Beckman sequentor. Light chain K29-213 belongs to a rare subgroup (kVI). Several of these light chains of antibodies with different specificities have been totally or partially sequenced. Comparison of these light chains reveals at least four germ-line-encoded variants within this subgroup.