Maturational changes in expression of enkephalin peptides in adrenal and extra-adrenal tissue of fetal and adult rabbits

Met-enkephalin immunoreactivity (MET-ENKi), total enkephalin immunoreactivity (TOTAL MET-ENKi) and catecholamines were measured in adrenal and extra-adrenal tissue of fetal, newborn and adult rabbits. Met-enkephalin peptides were detected in adrenal and extra-adrenal tissue by 29 days of gestation. There were progressive increases in TOTAL MET-ENKi in both the adrenal and extra-adrenal tissue during development. In 29-day-old fetuses, MET-ENKi represented 43 and 50% of the peptide content in adrenal and extra-adrenal tissues respectively. By 3 days after birth, MET-ENKi represented only 15 and 7% of the peptide content in the same tissues. In the adult adrenals, 10% of enkephalin peptides were found as MET-ENKi. There were progressive increases in adrenal and extra-adrenal catecholamine content in the fetal and newborn rabbits throughout development. The changes in the ratio of MET-ENKi to TOTAL MET-ENKi peptides suggest differences in posttranslational processing of proenkephalin peptide during maturation. We speculate that enkephalin peptides derived from proenkephalin A are important during fetal and early newborn life and that extra-adrenal tissue may be an important source of these peptides during development.

31P nuclear magnetic resonance and freeze-fracture electron microscopy studies on Escherichia coli. III. The outer membrane

1. The outer membrane of a phospholipase A-deficient mutant of Escherichia coli K12, isolated without the use of EDTA and lysozyme, showed the same freeze-fracture morphology as that seen in cells and remained stable for hours as observed by 31P-NMR. 2. 31P-NMR spectroscopy of the isolated outer membranes revealed that the lipopolysaccharide exists in the same physical state as in phospholipid-lipopolysaccharide liposomes and is most probably arranged in a bilayer at 37 degrees C. The outer membrane contains most or all of the phospholipids at 37 degrees C, and all the phospholipids at 20 degrees C, as a bilayer. 3. The 31P-NMR spectroscopy of the outer membranes from a mutant strain lacking the major outer membrane protein b, c and d (60% of the total outer membrane protein) yields virtually the same spectrum as the wild-type outer membranes, although most of the particles and pits which were observed in wild-type outer membranes in freeze-fracture electron microscopy were absent. 4. Whereas treatment of wild-type outer membranes with calcium ions has no effect on the 31P-NMR spectrum, treatment with EDTA results in more motion of the lipopolysaccharide.

31P nuclear magnetic resonance and freeze-fracture electron microscopy studies on Escherichia coli. II. Lipopolysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide-phospholipid complexes

1. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy and 31P-NMR spectroscopy on native and electrodialyzed lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli K12 cells, both above and below the phase transition temperature, are described. 2. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy of native lipopolysaccharide shows ribbon-like structures below (0 and 22 degrees C) and large vesicles above (37 degrees C) the phase transition temperature. Electrodialyzed lipopolysaccharide (sodium salt) occurs in ribbon-like structures at 0, 22 and 37 degrees C if sodium lipopolysaccharide is hydrated in water. If sodium lipopolysaccharide is hydrated in Tris-HCL/NaCl buffer these ribbon-like structures occur only below the phase transition temperature. Above the phase transition temperature stacked sheets are observed. Moreover, in the latter case, the fracture planes contain particles and pits. Upon etching, sodium lipopolysaccharide when hydrated in water appears to form rods and when hydrated in buffer appears to form mainly stacked lamellae both above (37 degrees C) and below (0 degrees C) the phase transition temperature. 3. High resolution 31P-NMR spectra show that the chemical shifts of the phosphorus atoms in native lipopolysaccharide differ from those in electrodialyzed lipopolysaccharide, probably due to conformational and compositional (the disappearance of ions and (poly)electrolytes) changes. The 31P-NMR spectra of native lipopolysaccharide dispersed in Tris-HCL/NaCl buffer are very broad at 20 and at 40 degrees C indicating little motion. At 22 degrees C electrodialyzed lipopolysaccharide also gives a broad spectrum; at 40 degrees C the spectrum is narrower, indicating more motion, and two peaks are visible. After dispersion in H2o and subsequent addition of buffer, the spectrum of electrodialyzed lipopolysaccharide is narrow both at 20 and 40 degrees C, which can be correlated with the rods observed in freeze etching. After treatment with Ca2+, electrodialyzed lipopolysaccharide shows a very broad spectrum at 40 degrees C probably due to immobilization of the lipopolysaccharide. 4. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy and 31P-NMR spectroscopy of liposomes consisting of native lipopolysaccharide and total phospholipids indicate that the phospholipids and the lipopolysaccharide are mainly organized in bilayers. Lipopolysaccharide in such liposomes undergoes more motion than in the absence of phospholipids. Ca2+ does not influence this behaviour.

31P nuclear magnetic resonance and freeze-fracture electron microscopy studies on Escherichia coli. I. Cytoplasmic membrane and total phospholipids

1. At the growth temperature the total phospholipids isolated from Escherichia coli cells give rise to 31P-NMR spectra which indicate the existence of lamellar, isotropic and hexagonal phases. These phases are also detected by freeze fracture electron microscopy. In particular, the isotropic phase may contain lipidic particles (possibly inverted micelles) associated with the lamellar phase. 2. The cytoplasmic membrane isolated from E. coli cells grown at 37 degrees C is mainly lamellar at 25 degrees C, whereas at 37 and 45 degrees C the presence of some almost isotropic phospholipid motion is indicated. The possible significance of the isotropic phase for the functioning of the cytoplasmic membrane is discussed.