Cloning and functional expression in bacteria of a novel glucose transporter present in liver, intestine, kidney, and beta-pancreatic islet cells

The well-characterized erythrocyte glucose transporter is also expressed in brain, adipocytes, kidney, muscle, and certain transformed cells, but not in liver, intestine, or the islets of Langerhans. Using as probe a cDNA encoding the rat brain glucose transporter, we isolated from a rat liver cDNA library a clone encoding a protein 55% identical in sequence to the rat brain transporter, and with a superimpossible hydropathy plot. We expressed this protein in an E. coli mutant defective in glucose uptake; the protein was incorporated into the bacterial membrane and functioned as a glucose transporter. This new transporter is expressed in liver, intestine, kidney, and the islets of Langerhans; immunofluorescence analysis showed that it is present in the plasma membrane of the insulin-producing beta cells. Insulinoma cells express, inappropriately, the erythrocyte glucose transporter, and we suggest that this may be related to their inability to secrete insulin in response to elevations in glucose.

Role of Cl- in electrogenic Na+-coupled cotransporters GAT1 and SGLT1

We have investigated the functional role of Cl(-) in the human Na(+)/Cl(-)/gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and Na(+)/glucose cotransporters (GAT1 and SGLT1, respectively) expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Substrate-evoked steady-state inward currents were examined in the presence and absence of external Cl(-). Replacement of Cl(-) by gluconate or 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid decreased the apparent affinity of GAT1 and SGLT1 for Na(+) and the organic substrate. In the absence of substrate, GAT1 and SGLT1 exhibited charge movements that manifested as pre-steady-state current transients. Removal of Cl(-) shifted the voltage dependence of charge movements to more negative potentials, with apparent affinity constants (K(0.5)) for Cl(-) of 21 and 115 mm for SGLT1 and GAT1, respectively. The maximum charge moved and the apparent valence were not altered. GAT1 stoichiometry was determined by measuring GABA-evoked currents and the unidirectional influx of (36)Cl(-), (22)Na(+), or [(3)H]GABA. Uptake of each GABA molecule was accompanied by inward movement of 2 positive charges, which was entirely accounted for by the influx of Na(+) in the presence or absence of Cl(-). Thus, the GAT1 stoichiometry was 2Na(+):1GABA. However, Cl(-) was transported by GAT1 because the inward movement of 2 positive charges was accompanied by the influx of one Cl(-) ion, suggesting unidirectional influx of 2Na(+):1Cl(-):1GABA per transport cycle. Activation of forward Na(+)/Cl(-)/GABA transport evoked (36)Cl(-) efflux and was blocked by the inhibitor SKF 89976A. These data suggest a Cl(-)/Cl(-) exchange mechanism during the GAT1 transport cycle. In contrast, Cl(-) was not transported by SGLT1. Thus, in both GAT1 and SGLT1, Cl(-) modulates the kinetics of cotransport by altering Na(+) affinity, but does not contribute to net charge transported per transport cycle. We conclude that Cl(-) dependence per se is not a useful criterion to classify Na(+) cotransporters.

Site-directed mutagenesis of cys148 in the lac carrier protein of Escherichia coli

The lac y gene of Escherichia coli which encodes the lac carrier protein has been modified by oligonucleotide-directed, site-specific mutagenesis such that cys148 is converted to a glycine residue. Cells bearing the mutated lac y gene exhibit initial rates of lactose transport that are about 4-fold lower than cells bearing the wild type gene on a recombinant plasmid. Furthermore, transport activity is less sensitive to inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide, and strikingly, galactosyl 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside affords no protection against inactivation. The findings suggest that although cys148 is essential for substrate protection against sulfhydryl inactivation, it is not obligatory for lactose: proton symport and that another sulfhydryl group elsewhere within the lac carrier protein may be required for full activity.

lac permease of Escherichia coli: histidine-205 and histidine-322 play different roles in lactose/H+ symport

The lac permease of Escherichia coli was modified by site-directed mutagenesis such that His-205 or His-322 is replaced with either Asn or Gln. Permease with Asn or Gln in place of His-205 exhibits normal activity, while permease with Asn or Gln in place of His-322 exhibits no activity. The results are consistent with the interpretation that His-205 and His-322 play different roles in lactose/H+ symport, the former involving hydrogen bonding of the imidazole nitrogens and the latter requiring positive charge in the imidazole ring. In addition, it is demonstrated that permease with Arg in place of His-322 does not catalyze efflux, exchange, or counterflow. The observations, in conjunction with those in the accompanying paper [Carrasco, N., Antes, L. M., Poonian, M. S., & Kaback, H. R. (1986) Biochemistry (following paper in this issue)], suggest that His-322 plays an important role in H+ translocation, possibly as a component of a charge-relay system with Glu-325, a neighboring residue in helix 10.

Molecular characterization of the human CRT-1 creatine transporter expressed in Xenopus oocytes

The protein sequence encoded by a creatine transporter cDNA cloned from a human heart library was identical to that cloned from a human kidney library (Nash et al., Receptors Channels 2, 165-174, 1994), except that at position 285 the former contained an Ala residue and the latter contained a Pro residue. Expression of this human heart cDNA clone in Xenopus laevis oocytes induced a Na+- and Cl--dependent creatine uptake activity that saturated with a Km of approximately 20 microM for creatine. The induced uptake was inhibited by beta-guanidinopropionic acid (IC50 approximately 44.4 microM), 2-amino-1-imidazolidineacetic acid (cyclocreatine; IC50 approximately 369.8 microM), gamma-guanidinobutyric acid (IC50 approximately 697.9 microM), gamma-aminobutyric acid (IC50 approximately 6.47 mM), and amiloride (IC50 approximately 2.46 mM). The inhibitors beta-guanidinopropionic acid, cyclocreatine, and gamma-guanidinobutyric acid also inhibited the uptake activity of the Ala285 to Pro285 (A285P) mutant as effectively as that of the wild type. In contrast, guanidinoethane sulfonic acid, a potent inhibitor of taurine transport, inhibited the uptake activity of the A285P mutant approx. two times more effectively than that of the wild type. The protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), but not its inactive analog, 4alpha-phorbol 12, 13-didecanoate, inhibited the creatine uptake, and the inhibitory effect of PMA was both time and concentration dependent. The protein kinase A activator 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, however, had no effect on the creatine uptake. The rate of uptake increased hyperbolically with the increasing concentration of the external Cl- (equilibrium constant KCl- approximately 5 mM) and sigmoidally with the increasing concentration of the external Na+ (equilibrium constant KNa+ approximately 56 mM). Further analyses of the Na+ and Cl- concentration dependence data suggested that at least two Na+ and one Cl- were required to transport one creatine molecule via the creatine transporter.

Characterization of site-directed mutants in the lac permease of Escherichia coli. 1. Replacement of histidine residues

Wild-type lac permease from Escherichia coli and two site-directed mutant permeases containing Arg in place of His35 and His39 or His322 were purified and reconstituted into proteoliposomes. H35-39R permease is indistinguishable from wild type with regard to all modes of translocation. In contrast, purified, reconstituted permease with Arg in place of His322 is defective in active transport, efflux, equilibrium exchange, and counterflow but catalyzes downhill influx of lactose without concomitant H+ translocation. Although permease with Arg in place of His205 was thought to be devoid of activity [Padan, E., Sarkar, H. K., Viitanen, P. V., Poonian, M. S., & Kaback, H. R. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 6765], sequencing of lac Y in pH205R reveals the presence of two additional mutations in the 5' end of the gene, and replacement of this portion of lac Y with a restriction fragment from the wild-type gene yields permease with normal activity. Permeases with Asn, Gln, or Lys in place of His322, like H322R permease, catalyze downhill influx of lactose without H+ translocation but are unable to catalyze active transport, equilibrium exchange, or counterflow. Unlike H322R permease, however, the latter mutants catalyze efflux at rates comparable to that of wild-type permease, although the reaction does not occur in symport with H+. Finally, as evidenced by flow dialysis and photoaffinity labeling experiments, replacement of His322 appears to cause a marked decrease in the affinity of the permease for substrate. The results confirm and extend the contention that His322 is the only His residue in the permease involved in lactose/H+ symport and that an imidazole moiety at position 322 is obligatory.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Molecular characterization and in situ localization of a mouse retinal taurine transporter

Various ocular tissues have a higher concentration of taurine than plasma. This taurine concentration gradient across the cell membrane is maintained by a high-affinity taurine transporter. To understand the physiological role of the taurine transporter in the retina, we cloned a taurine transporter encoding cDNA from a mouse retinal library, determined its biochemical and pharmacological properties, and identified the specific cellular sites expressing the taurine transporter mRNA. The deduced protein sequence of the mouse retinal taurine transporter (mTAUT) revealed >93% sequence identity to the canine kidney, rat brain, mouse brain, and human placental taurine transporters. Our data suggest that the mTAUT and the mouse brain taurine transporter may be variants of one another. The mTAUT synthetic RNA induced Na+- and Cl(-)-dependent [3H]taurine transport activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes that saturated with an average Km of 13.2 microM for taurine. Unlike the previous studies, we determined the rate of taurine uptake as the external concentration of Cl- was varied, a single saturation process with an average apparent equilibrium constant (K(Cl-)) of 17.7 mM. In contrast, the rate of taurine uptake showed a sigmoidal dependence when the external concentration of Na+ was varied (apparent equilibrium constant, K(Na+) approximately 54.8 mM). Analyses of the Na+- and Cl(-)-concentration dependence data suggest that at least two Na+ and one Cl- are required to transport one taurine molecule via the taurine transporter. Varying the pH of the transport buffer also affected the rate of taurine uptake; the rate showed a minimum between pH 6.0 and 6.5 and a maximum between pH 7.5 and 8.0. The taurine transport was inhibited by various inhibitors tested with the following order of potency: hypotaurine > beta-alanine > L-diaminopropionic acid > guanidinoethane sulfonate > beta-guanidinopropionic acid > chloroquine > gamma-aminobutyric acid > 3-amino-1-propanesulfonic acid (homotaurine). Furthermore, the mTAUT activity was not inhibited by the inactive phorbol ester 4alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate but was inhibited significantly by the active phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which was both concentration and time dependent. The cellular sites expressing the taurine transporter mRNA in the mouse eye, as determined by in situ hybridization technique, showed low levels of expression in many of the ocular tissues, specifically the retina and the retinal pigment epithelium. Unexpectedly, the highest expression levels of taurine transporter mRNA were found instead in the ciliary body of the mouse eye.

Site-specific mutagenesis of histidine residues in the lac permease of Escherichia coli

The lacY gene of Escherichia coli, which encodes the lac permease, has been modified by oligonucleotide-directed, site-specific mutagenesis such that each of the four histidine residues in the molecule is replaced with an arginine residue. Replacement of histidine-35 and histidine-39 with arginine has no apparent effect on permease activity. In contrast, replacement of either histidine-205 or histidine-322 by arginine causes a dramatic loss of transport activity, although the cells contain a normal complement of permease molecules, as determined by immunoadsorption assays. Interestingly, although substitution of histidine-205 or histidine-322 by arginine results in the loss of ability to catalyze active lactose transport, permease molecules with arginine at residue 322 appear to facilitate downhill lactose movements at high concentrations of the disaccharide. The results provide strong support for the contention that histidine residues in the lac permease play an important role in the coupling between lactose and proton translocation.

cys154 Is important for lac permease activity in Escherichia coli

The lac Y gene of Escherichia coli which encodes the lac permease has been modified by oligonucleotide-directed, site-specific mutagenesis such that cys154 is replaced with either gly or ser. Permease with gly in place of cys154 exhibits essentially no transport activity, while substitution of cys154 with ser also causes marked, though less complete loss of activity. The findings suggest that cys154 plays an important role in lactose:H+ symport.

The survival motor neuron protein interacts with the transactivator FUSE binding protein from human fetal brain

To identify interacting proteins of survival motor neuron (SMN) in neurons, a fetal human brain cDNA library was screened using the yeast two-hybrid system. One identified group of SMN interacting clones encoded the DNA transactivator FUSE binding protein (FBP). FBP overexpressed in HEK293 cells or endogenously expressed in fetal and adult mouse brain bound specifically in vitro to recombinant SMN protein. Furthermore, an anti-FBP antibody specifically co-immunoprecipitated SMN when both proteins were overexpressed in HEK293 cells. These results demonstrate that FBP is a novel interacting partner of SMN and suggests a possible role for SMN in neuronal gene expression.

The melibiose/Na+ symporter of Escherichia coli: kinetic and molecular properties

The role of the co-transported cation in the coupling mechanism of the melibiose permease of Escherichia coli has been investigated by analysing its sugar-binding activity, facilitated diffusion reactions and energy-dependent transport reactions catalysed by the carrier functioning either as an H+, Na+ or Li(+)-sugar symporter. The results suggest that the coupling cation not only acts as an activator for sugar-binding on the carrier but also regulates the rate of dissociation of the co-substrates in the cytoplasm by controlling the stability of the ternary complex cation-sugar-carrier facing the cell interior. Furthermore, there is some evidence that the membrane potential enhances the rate of symport activity by increasing the rate of dissociation of the co-substrates from the carrier in the cellular compartment. Identification of the melibiose permease as a membrane protein of 39 kDa by using a T7 RNA polymerase/promoter expression system is described. Site-directed mutagenesis has been used to replace individual carrier histidine residues by arginine to probe the functional contribution of each of the seven histidine residues to the symport mechanism. Only substitution of arginine for His94 greatly interferes with the carrier function. It is finally shown that mutations affecting the glutamate residue in position 361 inactivate translocation of the co-substrates but not their recognition by the permease.

Regulation of the mouse retinal taurine transporter (TAUT) by protein kinases in Xenopus oocytes

The goal was to investigate the role of protein kinases in modulating taurine transporter activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing the mouse retinal Na+/C-/taurine transporter. The currents generated by the taurine transporter were studied with a two-electrode voltage clamp and we recorded the maximal current (Imax), presteady-state charge transfer Q, and membrane capacitance Cm. 8-Br-cAMP, a membrane-permeable activator of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), decreased Imax (41%), Q (41%) and Cm (10%). Similarly, 1 microM sn-1,2-dioctanoylglycerol (DOG), an activator of the Ca2+/diacylglycerol-dependent protein kinase (PKC), decreased Imax (56%), Q (37%), and Cm (9%). Calyculin A, a specific inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, also produced effects similar to those of 8-Br-cAMP and DOG, and decreased Imax (64 %), Q (38%), and Cm (10%). We conclude that the taurine transporter is regulated by activators of PKA and PKC, and regulation occurs largely by changes in the number of transporters in the plasma membrane.

Expression of the human erythrocyte glucose transporter in Escherichia coli

The gene encoding the human erythrocyte glucose transporter, cloned from HepG2 hepatoma cells, was expressed in Escherichia coli by introducing a prokaryote-type ribosome binding site, subcloning the gene into the T7 promoter/T7 polymerase expression system, and transforming a strain that is defective in glucose transport. Cells bearing plasmids with the transporter gene take up 2-deoxy-D-glucose and D-glucose, unlike cells bearing plasmids without the transporter gene. Moreover, 2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake is inhibited by unlabeled D-glucose, cytochalasin B, or mercuric chloride but not by L-glucose. The glucose transport protein is inserted into the membrane of E. coli, as evidenced by immunoblotting experiments with two site-directed polyclonal antibodies, one directed against the COOH terminus of the glucose transporter and the other directed against a synthetic peptide containing amino acid residues 225-238. As detected with both antibodies, the protein migrates with apparent molecular mass of 34 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate/12% polyacrylamide, a size similar to that of the unglycosylated glucose-transport protein synthesized in vitro.

Cyclosporin A inhibits creatine uptake by altering surface expression of the creatine transporter

The immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A (CsA) inhibited the hCRT-1 cDNA-induced creatine uptake in Xenopus oocytes and the endogenous creatine uptake in cultured C(2)C(12) muscle cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. FK506, another potent immunosuppressant, was unable to mimic the effect of CsA suggesting that the inhibitory effect of CsA was specific. To delineate the mechanism underlying, we investigated the effect of CsA on the K(m) and V(max) of creatine transport and also on the cell surface distribution of the creatine transporter. Although CsA treatment did not affect the K(m) (20-24 microm) for creatine, it significantly decreased the V(max) of creatine uptake in both oocytes and muscle cells. CsA treatment reduced the cell surface expression level of the creatine transporter in the muscle cells by approximately 60% without significantly altering its total expression level, and the reduction in the cell surface expression paralleled the decrease in creatine uptake. Taken together, our results suggest that CsA inhibited creatine uptake by altering the surface abundance of the creatine transporter. We propose that CsA impairs the targeting of the creatine transporter by inhibiting the function of an associated cyclophilin, resulting in an apparent loss in surface expression of the creatine transporter. Our results also suggest that prolonged exposure to CsA may result in chronically creatine-depleted muscle, which may be a cause for the development of CsA-associated clinical myopathies in organ transplant patients.

Enhancement of the endopeptidase activity of botulinum neurotoxin by its associated proteins and dithiothreitol

Botulinum neurotoxins type A (BoNT/A), the most toxic substance known to man, is produced by Clostridium botulinum type A as a complex with a group of neurotoxin-associated proteins (NAPs), possibly through a polycistronic expression of a clustered group of genes. The botulinum neurotoxin complex is the only known example of a protein complex where a group of proteins (NAPs) protect another protein (BoNT) against acidity and proteases of the GI tract. We now report that NAPs also potentiate the Zn2+ endopeptidase activity of BoNT/A in both in vitro and in vivo assays against its known intracellular target protein, 25 kDa synaptosomal associated protein (SNAP-25). While BoNT/A exhibited no protease activity prior to reduction with dithiothreitol (DTT), the BoNT/A complex exhibited a high protease activity even in its nonreduced form. Our results suggest that the bacterial production of NAPs along with BoNT is designed for the NAPs to play an accessory role in the neurotoxin function, in contrast to their previously known limited role in protecting the neurotoxin in the GI tract and in the external environment. Structural features of BoNT/A change considerably upon disulfide reduction, as revealed by near-UV circular dichroism spectroscopy. BoNT/A in the reduced form adopts a more flexible structure than in the unreduced form, as also indicated by large differences in DeltaH values (155 vs 248 kJ mol-1) of temperature-induced unfolding of BoNT/A.

A five-residue sequence near the carboxyl terminus of the polytopic membrane protein lac permease is required for stability within the membrane

The lac permease (lacY gene product) of Escherichia coli contains 417 amino acid residues and is predicted to have a short hydrophilic amino terminus on the inner surface of the cytoplasmic membrane, multiple transmembrane hydrophobic segments in alpha-helical conformation, and a 17-amino acid residue hydrophilic carboxyl-terminal tail on the inner surface of the membrane. To assess the importance of the carboxyl terminus, the properties of several truncation mutants were studied. The mutants were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis such that stop codons were placed at specified positions, and the altered lacY genes were expressed at a relatively low rate from plasmid pACYC184. Permease truncated at position 407 or 401 retains full activity, and a normal complement of molecules is present in the membrane, as judged by immunoblot analyses. Thus, it is apparent that the carboxyl-terminal tail plays no direct role in membrane insertion of the permease, its stability, or in the mechanism of lactose/H+ symport. In marked contrast, when truncations are made at residues 396 (i.e., 4 amino acid residues from the carboxyl terminus of putative helix XII), 389, 372, or 346, the permease is no longer found in the membrane. Remarkably, however, when each of the mutated lacY genes is expressed at a high rate by means of the T7 RNA polymerase system [Tabor, S. & Richardson, C. C. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82, 1074-1079], all of the truncated permeases are present in the membrane, as indicated by [35S]methionine incorporation studies; however, permease truncated at residue 396, 389, 372, or 346 is defective with respect to lactose/H+ symport. Finally, pulse-chase experiments indicate that wild-type permease or permease truncated at residue 401 is stable, whereas permease truncated at or prior to residue 396 is degraded at a significant rate. The results are consistent with the notion that residues 396-401 in putative helix XII are important for protection against proteolytic degradation and suggest that this region of the permease may be necessary for proper folding.

Site-directed mutagenesis of cysteine-148 in the lac permease of Escherichia coli: effect on transport, binding, and sulfhydryl inactivation

By subjecting the lac y gene of Escherichia coli to oligonucleotide-directed, site-specific mutagenesis, Cys148 in the lac permease has been replaced with a Gly residue [Trumble, W. R., Viitanen, P. V., Sarkar, H. K., Poonian, M. S., & Kaback, H. R. (1984) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 119, 860]. Recombinant plasmids bearing wild-type or mutated lac y were constructed and used to transform E. coli T184. Steady-state levels of lactose accumulation, the apparent Km for lactose under energized conditions, and the KD for p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside are comparable in right-side-out vesicles containing wild-type or mutant permease. In contrast, the Vmax for lactose transport in vesicles containing mutant permease is significantly decreased. Although antibody binding studies reveal that vesicles from the mutant contain almost as much permease as wild-type vesicles, surprisingly only about one-fourth of the altered molecules bind p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside with high affinity. Mutant permease is less sensitive to inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide, although the alkylating agent is still capable of completely inhibiting transport activity. Importantly, beta-galactosyl 1-thio-beta-D-galactopyranoside affords complete protection of wild-type permease against N-ethylmaleimide but has no protective effect whatsoever in the mutant. The rate of inactivation of wild-type and mutant permeases by N-ethylmaleimide is increased at alkaline pH and by the presence of a proton electrochemical gradient (interior negative and alkaline), and these phenomena are exaggerated in vesicles containing mutant permease. Finally, p-(chloromercuri)benzenesulfonate, which completely displaces bound p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside from wild-type permease, does not affect binding in the mutant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phototransformation and dark reversion of phytochrome in deuterium oxide

The photostationary equilibrium between the Pr and Pfr forms of phytochrome shows a strong solvent deuterium isotope effect. Phytochrome transformation from the Pr to the Pfr form exhibits a small deuterium isotope effect, in Tris-D2O upon irradiation with red light, only after a photocycling of the phytochrome. In contrast, both the photoreversion and dark reversion of Pfr show an enhanced rate in D2O. In addition to the shift in the photostationary equilibrium in D2O, another pronounced effect of D2O on phytochrome is reflected in a significant enhancement of the fluorescence quantum yield of phytochrome (Pr). This result is interpreted in terms of the primary reaction involving an intramolecular proton transfer and its consequence in the phototransformation of phytochrome. It is further proposed that a tyrosyl residue acts as a general acid catalyst in the Pr to Pfr phototransformation, which is slower in D2O than in H2O. The D2O solvent isotope effect on the photoreversion and dark reversion of Pfr is explained on the basis of acid catalysis, probably a specific acid catalysis by deuteronium ion.

Molecular characterization of taurine transport in bovine aortic endothelial cells

Cultured bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells expressed a Na(+)/Cl(-)-dependent taurine uptake activity that saturated with an apparent K(0.5) of approximately 4.9 microM for taurine and was inhibited by beta-alanine, guanidinoethane sulfonate, and homotaurine. We isolated a taurine transporter clone from a BAE cell cDNA library that revealed >91% sequence identity at the amino acid level to the previously cloned high-affinity mammalian taurine transporters. The biochemical and pharmacological properties of the bovine taurine transporter cDNA expressed in Xenopus oocyte was similar to those of the high-affinity taurine transporter. Surprisingly, F(-) blocked taurine uptake in BAE cells with an IC(50) of approximately 17.5 mM. The endogenous taurine uptake was also inhibited by the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, but not by its inactive analog, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate. The endogenous uptake was stimulated, however, by hypertonic stress and the increase was due to an increase in the V(max) of taurine uptake. Our results provide the first description of a molecular mechanism that may be responsible for maintaining the intracellular taurine content in the endothelial cells.

Primary photoprocesses of undegraded phytochrome excited with red and blue light at 77 K

1. Red light irradiation of phytochrome (Pr) at 77 K produces an intermediate absorbing at 696 nm. The photostationary state concentration of this intermediate is rapidly established with that of Pr as the result of spectral overlap between the Qy band of Pr and the Qx band of the intermediate. 2. The 696 nm intermediate reverts back to Pr preferentially without yielding a substantial amount of Pfr upon thawing the 77 K sample to higher temperatures. 3. Blue light irradiation of Pr with or without exogenous FMN at 77 K results in the formation of two intermediates absorbing at 684 nm and 696 nm. The 684 nm intermediate is photochemically converted to the 696 nm intermediate at 77 K. Possibilities for the preferential formation of the 684 nm intermediate with blue light are discussed. 4. At 277 K, blue light irradiation of phytochrome (Pr) containing exogenous FMN increases the rate of phototransformation from Pr to Pfr three times over Pr having no FMN. On the other hand, exogenous FMN has no effect on the rate of transformation of Pr to Pfr by red light. 5. Energy transfer occurs from FMN to Pr at 77 K, initiating the photoprocesses of the Pr. The energy transfer apparently occurs within flavin-phytochrome complexes.

Nature of phototransformation of phytochrome As probed by intrinsic tryptophan residues

The phototransformation of the photomorphogenic photoreceptor phytochrome was probed by the intrinsic luminescence of the tryptophan (Trp) residues. The red light absorbing form of phytochrome (Pr) showed a decreased tryptophan phosphorescence intensity, compared to that of the far-red light absorbing form of phytochrome (Pfr), and a delayed fluorescence from the chromophore upon excitation of the tryptophan residues with 290-nm light. The tryptophan phosphorescence in both Pr and Pfr showed decreased lifetimes (0.29 and 1.84 s, respectively) compared to that of the free tryptophan (6.00 s). In addition, the decay kinetics of the delayed fluorescence in Pr showed a short-lifetime component (0.24 s), which is similar to the tryptophan phosphorescence lifetime value. This is due to an efficient triplet-singlet (3Trp-1Pr) energy transfer in the Pr from. The increases in the tryptophan phosphorescence quantum yield and lifetime in the Pfr form have been interpreted on the basis of chromophore reorientation on the protein surface as a result of the Pr lead to Pfr phototransformation. The Stern-Volmer plot of the quenching data further confirms preferential exposure of the tryptophan residues in the Pfr form (46% "exposed' tryptophan residues in the Pr form as compared to 72% in the Pfr form). These results provide strong support for the hydrophobic model of Pfr [Hahn, T. R., & Song, P. S. (1981) Biochemistry 20, 2602-2609).

Differential roles of developmentally distinct SNAP-25 isoforms in the neurotransmitter release process

The role of SNAP-25 (synaptosomal associated protein of 25 kDa) isotypes in the neurotransmitter release process was examined by varying their relative abundance during PC12 cell differentiation induced by nerve growth factor (NGF). Norepinephrine release by NGF-differentiated PC12 cells is more sensitive to type A botulinum toxin (BoNT/A) than by nondifferentiated cells, while both differentiated and nondifferentiated PC12 cells are equally sensitive to type E botulinum toxin (BoNT/E). The differential sensitivity to BoNT/A corresponds to an altered susceptibility of SNAP-25 isotypes to BoNT/A cleavage in vitro, whereas both isotypes are equally vulnerable to cleavage by BoNT/E. Using recombinant SNAP-25 preparations, we show that BoNT/A cleaves SNAP-25b (present in differentiated cells) 2-fold more readily than SNAP-25a (present in both differentiated and nondifferentiated cells). Structural studies using far-ultraviolet circular dichroism (UV--CD) and thermal denaturation suggest a difference in the polypeptide folding as the underlying molecular basis for the differential sensitivity of SNAP-25b and SNAP-25a to BoNT/A cleavage. We propose differential roles for SNAP-25b and SNAP-25a in the neurotransmitter release process since our results suggest that BoNT/A inhibits neurotransmitter release by primarily cleaving SNAP-25b.