Secure and effective gene vector of polyamidoamine dendrimer pharmaceutically modified with anionic polymer

The purpose of this study was to develop a new type of gene vector, polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendriplex pharmaceutically modified, based on electrostatic interactions, by various anionic polymers. The γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA)/PAMAM dendriplex and the α-PGA/PAMAM dendriplex formed a stable complex, although α-polyaspartic acid and heparin released pDNA from the complex. The addition of anionic polymer decreased the ζ-potential, although it did not greatly affect the size of the complex. As a result of an in vitro gene expression study of mouse melanoma cells, we found that the γ-PGA/PAMAM dendriplex showed high gene expression comparable to the PAMAM dendriplex, although the α-PGA/PAMAM dendriplex showed lower gene expression. Tail vein injection of the γ-PGA/PAMAM dendriplex into mice also led to high gene expression in the spleen and lung. The γ-PGA/PAMAM dendriplex showed no cytotoxicity and no agglutination, although severe cytotoxicity and agglutination were observed in the PAMAM dendriplex. Thus, we discovered that complexes of pDNA, PAMAM dendrimers, and γ-PGA showed higher gene expression in vitro and in vivo, and markedly lower toxicity. This complex is valuable and is expected to be a safe and effective gene vector.

Carbazochrome sodium sulfonate (AC-17) reverses endothelial barrier dysfunction through inhibition of phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis in cultured porcine endothelial cells

The effect of carbazochrome sodium sulfonate (AC-17), a hemostatic drug with capillary stabilising action, on the endothelial barrier dysfunction induced by a variety of vasoactive substances or agents that increase the vascular permeability was investigated in the monolayers of cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs). The endothelial barrier function was determined by the transendothelial transport of albumin-conjugated Evans blue. AC-17 (0.1-1 M) reversed the barrier dysfunction induced by tryptase, thrombin and bradykinin without affecting the endothelial permeability enhanced by Ca(2+) ionophores such as ionomycin and A23187 or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that AC-17 reversed the tryptase-induced formation of actin stress fibres and disruption of VE-cadherin in PAECs. On the other hand, AC-17 (0.1-10 M) reduced concentration-dependently the enhancement of [(3)H]inositol triphosphate formation from [(3)H]myo-inositol induced by bradykinin and thrombin.Therefore, it is suggested that AC-17 reduces the vascular hyperpermeability induced by a variety of vasoactive agents through inhibition of agonist-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

Involvement of proteinase-activated receptor-2 in mast cell tryptase-induced barrier dysfunction in bovine aortic endothelial cells

We report here a direct modulation by mast cell tryptase of endothelial barrier function through activation of proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2). In cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs), tryptase, trypsin and PAR-2 activating peptide impaired the barrier function as determined by the permeability of protein-conjugated Evans blue. The tryptase-induced barrier dysfunction was completely blocked by U73122, and partially reversed by xestospongin C, calphostin C or Y27632. The intracellular Ca(2+) was elevated by tryptase. It was notable that ioxaglate, a contrast material that degranulates mast cells, markedly increased the permeability when applied to BAECs in combination with mast cells, an action that was blocked by nafamostat, a potent tryptase inhibitor. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that actin stress fibre formation and disruption of VE-cadherin were observed after exposure to tryptase or ioxaglate in combination with mast cells. Therefore, it is suggested that mast cell tryptase impairs endothelial barrier function through activation of endothelial PAR-2 in a manner dependent on the phospholipase C activity.

A potent tryptase inhibitor nafamostat mesilate dramatically suppressed pulmonary dysfunction induced in rats by a radiographic contrast medium

(1) Intravenous injection of ioxaglate (4 g iodine kg(-1)), an iodinated radiographic contrast medium, caused a marked protein extravasation, pulmonary oedema and a decrease in the arterial partial oxygen pressure in rats. (2) All of these reactions to ioxaglate were reversed by the pretreatment with gabexate mesilate (10 and 50 mg kg(-1), 5 min prior to injection) or nafamostat mesilate (3 and 10 mg kg(-1)), in which the inhibition was complete after injection of nafamostat mesilate (10 mg kg(-1)). (3) Both gabexate mesilate and nafamostat mesilate inhibited the activity of purified human lung tryptase, although the latter compound was far more potent than the former. (4) Ioxaglate enhanced the nafamostat-sensitive protease activity in the extracellular fluid of rat peritoneal mast cell suspensions. (5) Tryptase enhanced the permeability of protein through the monolayer of cultured human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells. Ioxaglate, when applied in combination with rat peritoneal mast cells, also produced the endothelial barrier dysfunction. These effects of tryptase and ioxaglate were reversed by nafamostat mesilate. (6) Consistent with these findings, immunofluorescence morphological analysis revealed that tryptase or ioxaglate in combination with mast cells increased actin stress fibre formation while decreasing VE-cadherin immunoreactivity. Both of these actions of tryptase and ioxaglate were reversed by nafamostat mesilate. (7) These findings suggest that tryptase liberated from mast cells plays a crucial role in the ioxaglate-induced pulmonary dysfunction. In this respect, nafamostat mesilate may become a useful agent for the cure or prevention of severe adverse reactions to radiographic contrast media.

Carbazochrome attenuates pulmonary dysfunction induced by a radiographic contrast medium in rats

The effects of carbazochrome sodium sulfonate (AC-17), a capillary stabilizer, on pulmonary edema and dysfunction induced by ioxaglate, an ionic radiographic contrast medium, were evaluated in rats. The pulmonary edema was evaluated by the extravasation of intravenously injected Evans blue into lung tissues, while pulmonary dysfunction was determined by monitoring blood gasses including pO(2). Ioxaglate (4 g I/kg, i.v.) caused a marked increase in vascular permeability and a decrease in arterial pO(2). AC-17 reversed the ioxaglate-induced vascular hyperpermeability in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, AC-17 (10 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the decrease in arterial pO(2). In isolated rat pulmonary mast cells, ioxaglate markedly enhanced the histamine release, which was not affected by AC-17. On the other hand, AC-17 did significantly blocked the hyperpermeability induced in cultured bovine endothelial cells by tryptase, thrombin and proteinase-activated receptor-2 agonist peptide (SLIGKV-NH(2)). These findings suggest that AC-17 blocks radiographic contrast medium-induced pulmonary dysfunction by maintaining the endothelial barrier function. Thus, the compound is potentially useful for the prophylaxis of contrast media-induced acute pulmonary adverse events during angiography.

Functional association between nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and sarcomeric proteins via actin and desmin filaments

By affinity chromatography utilizing alpha-cobrotoxin from digitonin-solubilized fractions of rabbit skeletal muscle, we found that many proteins are associated with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR). In addition to the proteins we previously reported to bind to AChR (including dystrophin-dystrophin-associated protein (DAP) complex, utrophin, rapsyn, and actin; Mitsui et al. [1996] Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.224:802-807), alpha-actinin, desmin, myosin, tropomyosin, troponin T, and titin are also identified to be associated with AChR. Alkaline treatment or Triton X-100 solubilization released dystrophin-DAP complex, utrophin, and rapsyn from the AChR fraction, while actin and desmin remained associated. These findings demonstrate that AChR is supported primarily by a submembranous organization of actin and desmin filaments, and is linked to sarcomeric proteins via these filaments. To further investigate whether the association has any functional role, we studied the effect of acetylcoline on ATPase activity of the AChR fraction. Acetylcholine (0.5-4 microM) significantly activated Mg(2+)-ATPase activity of digitonin-solubilized AChR fraction (P < 0.05). Furthermore, we found that desmin as well as actin activated myosin Mg(2+)-ATPase activity. From these findings, it is suggested that desmin and actin form a submembranous organization in the postsynaptic region, and function as mediators of excitation of AChR to the sarcomeric contraction system.

L-lactate oxidase from Aerococcus viridans crystallized as an octamer. Preliminary X-ray studies

Crystals of flavoenzyme L-lactate oxidase from Aerococcus viridans (LOX) have been obtained that diffract to 3.0 A resolution (P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 118.4 A, b = 138.4 A, c = 194.6 A). Crystallographic studies suggest that the enzyme may exist as an octameric form with non-crystallographic two- and four-fold axes in the center of the octamer. The four-fold axis makes the tetramer tight, and the tetramers lie upon one another by the two-fold axis.

Evidence of shallow fault zone strengthening after the 1992 M7.5 landers, california, earthquake

Repeated seismic surveys of the Landers, California, fault zone that ruptured in the magnitude (M) 7.5 earthquake of 1992 reveal an increase in seismic velocity with time. P, S, and fault zone trapped waves were excited by near-surface explosions in two locations in 1994 and 1996, and were recorded on two linear, three-component seismic arrays deployed across the Johnson Valley fault trace. The travel times of P and S waves for identical shot-receiver pairs decreased by 0.5 to 1.5 percent from 1994 to 1996, with the larger changes at stations located within the fault zone. These observations indicate that the shallow Johnson Valley fault is strengthening after the main shock, most likely because of closure of cracks that were opened by the 1992 earthquake. The increase in velocity is consistent with the prevalence of dry over wet cracks and with a reduction in the apparent crack density near the fault zone by approximately 1.0 percent from 1994 to 1996.

On the reaction mechanism of L-lactate oxidase: quantitative structure-activity analysis of the reaction with para-substituted L-mandelates

The rate constants for reduction of the flavoenzyme, L-lactate oxidase, and a mutant (in which alanine 95 is replaced by glycine), by a series of para-substituted mandelates, in both the 2-1H- and 2-2H- forms, have been measured by rapid reaction spectrophotometry. In all cases, significant isotope effects (1H/2H = 3-7) on the rate constants of flavin reduction were found, indicating that flavin reduction is a direct measure of alpha-C-H bond breakage. The rate constants show only a small influence of the electronic characteristics of the substituents, but show a good correlation when combined with some substituent volume parameters. A surprisingly good correlation is found with the molecular mass of the substrate. The results are compatible with any mechanism in which there is little development of charge in the transition state. This could be a transfer of hydride to the flavin N(5) position or a synchronous mechanism in which the alpha-C-H is formally abstracted as a H+ while the resulting charge is simultaneously neutralized by another event.

Conversion of L-lactate oxidase to a long chain alpha-hydroxyacid oxidase by site-directed mutagenesis of alanine 95 to glycine

A mutant form of L-lactate oxidase (LOX) from Aerococcus viridans in which alanine 95 was replaced by glycine was constructed as a mimic of L-lactate monooxygenase but proved instead to be a mimic of the long chain alpha-hydroxyacid oxidase from rat kidney. A95G-LOX keeps oxidase activity with L-lactate at the same level as wild type LOX but has much enhanced oxidase activity with longer chain L-alpha-hydroxyacids, alpha-hydroxy-n-butyric acid, alpha-hydroxy-n-valeric acid, etc., and also the aromatic alpha-hydroxyacid, L-mandelic acid. Kinetic analysis of the activity with these substrates indicates that the reduction of the enzyme bound flavin by substrates is the rate-limiting step in A95G-LOX. The affinity of pyruvate for the reduced enzyme is increased, and sulfite binding to the oxidized enzyme is weaker in A95G-LOX than in native enzyme. Wild type LOX stabilizes both the neutral and anionic flavin semiquinones with a pKa of 6.1, but A95G LOX stabilizes only the anionic semiquinone form. These results strongly suggest that the environment around the N5-C4a region of the flavin isoalloxazine ring is changed by this mutation.

Induction of dystrophin-associated proteins together with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by denervation in the absence of dystrophin in skeletal muscles of mdx mice

We purified the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from digitonin-solubilized rabbit skeletal muscle by affinity chromatography and detected many proteins linked to AChR, including dystrophin, adhalin, beta-dystroglycan, utrophin, rapsyn, and actin. To determine whether or not AChR links to dystrophin-associated proteins (DAPs) without dystrophin, we studied the effects of denervation on AChR and DAPs in the skeletal muscle of a mdx mouse. Following surgical denervation, the levels of adhalin and beta-dystroglycan dramatically increased at the extrajunctional sarcolemma with AChR, suggesting that their association is independent of dystrophin. Furthermore, the diffuse extrajunctional appearance of adhalin, beta-dystroglycan, and AChR was observed after pharmacological denervation through the subcutaneous administration of succinylcholine. Since the depletion of DAPs and the subsequent disruption of sarcolemmal linkage are believed to be a primary cause of muscle cell necrosis in dystrophinopathies, pharmacological denervation may have some beneficial effect on these diseases.

Scale dependence in earthquake phenomena and its relevance to earthquake prediction

The recent discovery of a low-velocity, low-Q zone with a width of 50-200 m reaching to the top of the ductile part of the crust, by observations on seismic guided waves trapped in the fault zone of the Landers earthquake of 1992, and its identification with the shear zone inferred from the distribution of tension cracks observed on the surface support the existence of a characteristic scale length of the order of 100 m affecting various earthquake phenomena in southern California, as evidenced earlier by the kink in the magnitude-frequency relation at about M3, the constant corner frequency for earthquakes with M below about 3, and the sourcecontrolled fmax of 5-10 Hz for major earthquakes. The temporal correlation between coda Q-1 and the fractional rate of occurrence of earthquakes in the magnitude range 3-3.5, the geographical similarity of coda Q-1 and seismic velocity at a depth of 20 km, and the simultaneous change of coda Q-1 and conductivity at the lower crust support the hypotheses that coda Q-1 may represent the activity of creep fracture in the ductile part of the lithosphere occurring over cracks with a characteristic size of the order of 100 m. The existence of such a characteristic scale length cannot be consistent with the overall self-similarity of earthquakes unless we postulate a discrete hierarchy of such characteristic scale lengths. The discrete hierarchy of characteristic scale lengths is consistent with recently observed logarithmic periodicity in precursory seismicity.

L-lactate oxidase and L-lactate monooxygenase: mechanistic variations on a common structural theme

Properties of L-lactate oxidase from Aerococcus viridans are described. The gene encoding the enzyme has been isolated. From its cDNA sequence the amino acid sequence has been derived and shown to have high similarity with those of other enzymes catalyzing oxidation of L-alpha-hydroxy acids, including flavocytochrome b2, lactate monooxygenase, glycolate oxidase, mandelate dehydrogenases and a long chain alpha-hydroxy acid oxidase. The enzyme is expressed in Escherichia coli, and is a flavoprotein containing FMN as prosthetic group. It shares many properties of other alpha-hydroxy acid oxidizing enzymes, eg stabilization of the anionic semiquinone form of the flavin, facile formation of flavin-N(5)-sulfite adducts and a set of conserved amino acid residues around the bound flavin. Steady-state and rapid reaction kinetics of the enzyme have been studied and found to share many characteristics with those of L-lactate monooxygenase, but to differ from the latter in quantitative aspects. It is these quantitative differences between the two enzymes which account for the differences in the overall reactions catalyzed. These differences arise from different stabilities of a common intermediate of reduced flavin enzyme and pyruvate. In the case of the monooxygenase this complex is very stable and is the form that reacts with O2 to give a complex in which the oxidative decarboxylation occurs, yielding the products, acetate, CO2, and H2O (Lockridge O, Massey V, Sullivan PA (1972) J Biol Chem 247, 8097-8106). With lactate oxidase, the complex dissociates rapidly, with the result that it is the free reduced flavin form of the enzyme that reacts with O2, to give the observed products, pyruvate and H2O2.

Fine Structure of the Landers Fault Zone: Segmentation and the Rupture Process

Observations and modeling of 3- to 6-hertz seismic shear waves trapped within the fault zone of the 1992 Landers earthquake series allow the fine structure and continuity of the zone to be evaluated. The fault, to a depth of at least 12 kilometers, is marked by a zone 100 to 200 meters wide where shear velocity is reduced by 30 to 50 percent. This zone forms a seismic waveguide that extends along the southern 30 kilometers of the Landers rupture surface and ends at the fault bend about 18 kilometers north of the main shock epicenter. Another fault plane waveguide, disconnected from the first, exists along the northern rupture surface. These observations, in conjunction with surface slip, detailed seismicity patterns, and the progression of rupture along the fault, suggest that several simple rupture planes were involved in the Landers earthquake and that the inferred rupture front hesitated or slowed at the location where the rupture jumped from one to the next plane. Reduction in rupture velocity can tentatively be attributed to fault plane complexity, and variations in moment release can be attributed to variations in available energy.

Mechanisms of generation of oxygen radicals and reductive mobilization of ferritin iron by lipoamide dehydrogenase

The oxidase reaction of lipoamide dehydrogenase with NADH generates superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide under aerobic conditions. ESR spin trapping using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) was applied to characterize the oxygen radical species generated by lipoamide dehydrogenase and the mechanism of their generation. During the oxidase reaction of lipoamide dehydrogenase, DMPO-OOH and DMPO-OH signals were observed. The DMPO-OOH signal disappeared on addition of superoxide dismutase. These results demonstrate that the DMPO-OOH adduct was produced from the superoxide radical generated by lipoamide dehydrogenase. In the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide, a DMPO-CH3 signal appeared at the expense of the DMPO-OH signal, indicating that the DMPO-OH adduct was produced directly from the hydroxyl radical rather than by decomposition of the DMPO-OOH adduct. The DMPO-OH signal decreased on addition of superoxide dismutase, catalase, or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, indicating that the hydroxyl radical was generated via the metal-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction from the superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide. Addition of ferritin to the NADH-lipoamide dehydrogenase system resulted in a decrease of the DMPO-OOH signal, indicating that the superoxide radical interacted with ferritin iron.

Mechanisms of generation of oxygen radicals and reductive mobilization of ferritin iron by lipoamide dehydrogenase

The oxidase reaction of lipoamide dehydrogenase with NADH generates superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide under aerobic conditions. ESR spin trapping using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) was applied to characterize the oxygen radical species generated by lipoamide dehydrogenase and the mechanism of their generation. During the oxidase reaction of lipoamide dehydrogenase, DMPO-OOH and DMPO-OH signals were observed. The DMPO-OOH signal disappeared on addition of superoxide dismutase. These results demonstrate that the DMPO-OOH adduct was produced from the superoxide radical generated by lipoamide dehydrogenase. In the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide, a DMPO-CH3 signal appeared at the expense of the DMPO-OH signal, indicating that the DMPO-OH adduct was produced directly from the hydroxyl radical rather than by decomposition of the DMPO-OOH adduct. The DMPO-OH signal decreased on addition of superoxide dismutase, catalase, or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, indicating that the hydroxyl radical was generated via the metal-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction from the superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide. Addition of ferritin to the NADH-lipoamide dehydrogenase system resulted in a decrease of the DMPO-OOH signal, indicating that the superoxide radical interacted with ferritin iron.

Seismic Trapped Modes in the Oroville and San Andreas Fault Zones

Three-component borehole seismic profiling of the recently active Oroville, California, normal fault and microearthquake event recording with a near-fault three-component borehole seismometer on the San Andreas fault at Parkfield, California, have shown numerous instances of pronounced dispersive wave trains following the shear wave arrivals. These wave trains are interpreted as fault zone-trapped seismic modes. Parkfield earthquakes exciting trapped modes have been located as deep as 10 kilometers, as shallow as 4 kilometers, and extend 12 kilometers along the fault on either side of the recording station. Selected Oroville and Parkfield wave forms are modeled as the fundamental and first higher trapped SH modes of a narrow low-velocity layer at the fault. Modeling results suggest that the Oroville fault zone is 18 meters wide at depth and has a shear wave velocity of 1 kilometer per second, whereas at Parkfield, the fault gouge is 100 to 150 meters wide and has a shear wave velocity of 1.1 to 1.8 kilometers per second. These low-velocity layers are probably the rupture planes on which earthquakes occur.

Superoxide-mediated release of iron from ferritin by some flavoenzymes

NADH-lipoamide dehydrogenase mobilized iron from ferritin under aerobic conditions. Superoxide dismutase strongly inhibited this mobilization, indicating that the superoxide radical is generated by the enzymatic reaction and release iron from ferritin. Addition of lipoamide as an electron acceptor to NADH-lipoamide dehydrogenase increased the release of iron from ferritin and this release was partially inhibited by superoxide dismutase. Similarly, addition of menadione (2-methyl-1, 4-naphthoquinone) as an electron acceptor to xanthine-xanthine oxidase promoted the release of iron from ferritin and this release was strongly inhibited by superoxide dismutase. These results suggest that dihydrolipoamide and semiquinone of menadione can react with oxygen to form the superoxide radical that mediates release of iron from ferritin.

Branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase of Escherichia coli: overproduction and properties

ilvE gene of Escherichia coli was inserted into the region downstream of the tac promotor. As a result, the branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase was overproduced by about a hundred-fold in E. coli W3110. The overproduced aminotransferase was purified from cell extracts about 40-fold to homogeneity. Chemical and physicochemical analyses confirmed that it was a product of the ilvE gene. The enzyme existed in a hexamer with a subunit molecular weight of 34,000; the double trimer model of the enzyme presumed by the previous chemical cross-linking experiments (Lee-Peng, F.-C. et al. (1979) J. bacteriol. 139, 339-345) was supported by electron micrographs. The circular dichroic (CD) spectrum of branch-chain amino acid aminotransferase had double negative maxima at 210 and 220 nm. The alpha-helical content was estimated to be about 40% from the CD spectrum in the region of 200 to 250 nm. The absorption spectrum of the enzyme showed two peaks at 330 and 410 nm. There was no pH-dependent spectral shift. The CD spectrum of the coenzyme, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, had negative peaks at 330 and 410 nm. These spectral properties of branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase were quite different from those of E. coli aspartate aminotransferase. Each subunit bound approximately 1 mol of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. A lysyl residue, which forms a Schiff base with the aldehyde group of the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, was identified in the primary structure of the enzyme.

Biochemical characterization of the conduction system of the bovine heart

The enzyme level profiles of some regulatory enzymes and the isozyme patterns of some marker enzymes in bovine adult specialized, adult ordinary and fetal ordinary heart muscles were examined in order to biochemically characterize specialized heart muscle. The activities of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in adult specialized heart muscle were significantly higher than those in adult ordinary heart muscle, but were similar to those in fetal ordinary heart muscle. The carnitine content and carnitine acetyltransferase activity in adult specialized heart muscle were lower than those in adult ordinary heart muscle. The isozyme patterns of creatine kinase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase and pyruvate kinase in adult specialized heart muscle resembled those in fetal ordinary heart muscle. These results indicate that adult specialized heart muscle has the biochemical characteristics of fetal ordinary heart muscle.

Region of cytochrome c interacting with yeast cytochrome b2: determination with singly modified carboxydinitrophenyl cytochromes c

The association and reduction reactions of ten different 4-carboxy-2,6-dinitrophenyl (CDNP) horse heart cytochromes c, singly modified at lysines 8, 13, 27, 39, 60, 72, 73, 86, 87, and 99, with Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytochrome b2 were studied to determine the region of cytochrome c interacting with cytochrome b2. In the presence of higher ratios of free cytochrome c to cytochrome b2, native cytochrome c, and the CDNP-lysine 39, 60, and 99 derivatives associated with cytochrome b2 with a binding stoichiometry close to 2:1, while CDNP-cytochromes c modified at lysines 8, 13, 27, 72, 73, 86, and 87 formed only 1:1 complexes. In the presence of lower ratios of free cytochrome c, modifications of lysines 8, 27, 86, and 87 had more inhibitory effects on the association of cytochrome c with cytochrome b2 than modifications of lysines 13, 39, 60, 72, 73, and 99. This tendency was similar to that on removal of free cytochrome c, except in the case of CDNP-lysine 13 and 73 derivatives. The rate of reduction of cytochrome c by cytochrome b2 was decreased by carboxydinitrophenylation of lysines 8, 13, 27, 72, 73, 86, and 87. In contrast, the rate of reduction of cytochrome c was not affected by modifications of lysines 39, 60, and 99. Since lysines 8, 13, 27, 72, 73, 86, and 87 are located on the front surface and lysines 39, 60, and 99 on the back side, and since different effects of modifying lysine residues located on the front surface may be interpreted in terms of effects on the complementary interaction of cytochrome c and cytochrome b2, these results indicate that the region of cytochrome c interacting with cytochrome b2 is located on the front surface of the cytochrome c molecule containing the exposed heme edge.

Oxidation and reduction of cytochrome c bound to the phosphoprotein phosvitin

The oxidation-reduction reactions and structural characteristics of phosvitin-bound cytochrome c were examined at various ratios of cytochrome c to phosvitin. At binding ratios below half the maximum, the rate constants for the oxidation reactions with cytochrome c oxidase and ferricyanide and the rate constants for the reduction reactions with cytochrome b2 and ascorbate were low, but at higher ratios these rate constants gradually increased to that of free cytochrome c and, in particular, the rate constant for oxidation by cytochrome c oxidase was raised to two to three times that of the free form. This binding-ratio dependence of the rate constants for the oxidation and reduction reactions was different from that of the net charge of the cytochrome c-phosvitin complex, implying that the negative charges of phosvitin are unlikely to modulate the rates. In contrast, the broadening of the NMR signals for the heme and methionine-80 methyl groups and the conformational transition in the vicinity of the heme moiety on change from the native to the cyanide-bound or urea-denatured form of cytochrome c showed a similar binding-ratio dependence to the rate constants for the oxidation and reduction reactions. Since the conformation and electronic structure in the heme environment of ferric and ferrous cytochromes c were not changed significantly by binding to phosvitin, and since the binding strength of cytochrome c to phosvitin at binding ratios below half the maximum is different from that at higher ratios, these findings suggest that a difference in the movement of cytochrome c in its complex with phosvitin may modulate its oxidation-reduction reactions.

Effect of dinitrophenyl modification on oxidation-reduction of glutathione reductase from yeast

Covalent modification of glutathione reductase (GR) from yeast with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (FDNB) inhibited the NADPH-GSSG reductase activity completely. This modification also decreased the NADPH-thio-NADP+ transhydrogenase activity, stimulated the NADPH-oxidase activity, and induced the NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity. Spectrophotometric titration showed that one tyrosine residue per FAD was modified with a dinitrophenyl group. The modified enzyme showed conversion of the two-electron reduced form (EH2) to the four-electron reduced form (EH4) in anaerobic conditions and conversion of EH2 to the oxidized form (E) in aerobic conditions. These results indicate that the modification of one tyrosine residue of the active site induces the instability of EH2.

Aspartate aminotransferase isozymes from rabbit liver. Purification and properties

Cytosolic and mitochondrial isozymes of aspartate aminotransferase (L-aspartate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase [EC 2.6.1.1] ) were purified to homogeneity from rabbit liver. The rabbit liver isozymes were closely similar to the corresponding isozymes from other sources, including human heart, pig heart, chicken heart, and rat liver, in their molecular weights, absorption spectra, amino acid compositions, isoelectric points, and Michaelis constants for the substrates. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of rabbit liver isozymes were identified up to 30 residues, and showed some differences from those of the corresponding isozymes obtained from other animals so far studied.

Sodium-induced aggregation of phosphatidic acid and mixed phospholipid vesicles

Sodium-induced aggregations of sonicated vesicles prepared from synthetic phosphatidic acid and from its 1:1 mixtures with synthetic phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine were studied by turbidimetric measurements. The aggregation reactions were almost completely reversible on change in the Na+ concentration, pH or temperature. The threshold concentrations of Na+ for aggregations of pure dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid vesicles and mixed dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine- and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine-dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid vesicles were found to be 200, 310 and 550 mM, respectively, at 25 degrees C and pH 7.2. The hydrocarbon chain lengths of phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylethanolamine had little effect on the threshold concentrations. The threshold concentrations for phospholipid vesicles composed of phosphatidic acid alone or its 1:1 mixture with phosphatidylethanolamine were changed by varying either the pH or temperature, while that for phosphatidylcholine-phosphatidic acid vesicles was almost independent of the pH and temperature, implying that aggregation of the latter vesicles is induced by a somewhat different mechanism.

Effect of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide on the oxidation-reduction potentials of lipoamide dehydrogenase from pig heart

The effect of NAD+ on lipoamide dehydrogenase from pig heart was investigated physicochemically. The observed and theoretical oxidation-reduction mid-point potentials for the oxidized lipoamide dehydrogenase (E)/two-electron-reduced lipoamide dehydrogenase (EH2) couple in the presence on NAD+ were -218 mV and -251 mV, respectively, at pH 6.0. Therefore, unexpectedly the mid-point potential of the enzyme became more positive on NAD+ binding. Decreases in the fluorescence lifetime and intensity and increase in the degree of polarization of enzyme-bound FAD were observed in the presence of NAD+. Fluorescence quenching of bound FAD by NAD+ was released by phenobarbital. The results suggest that NAD+ strengthens the intramolecular dynamic interaction between the isoalloxazine moiety and adenine moiety of bound FAD, and so alters the mid-point potential of the enzyme. These findings indicate that NAD+ acts not only as an acceptor of electrons from EH2, but also as an effector in the flavin-disulfide interaction of EH2.

Interaction of the fluorescence-labeled secretory component with human polymeric immunoglobulins

The secretory component (SC) isolated from human milk was labeled with 2 mol of the fluorescent thiol reagent N-[7-(dimethylamino)-4-methylcoumarinyl]maleimide (DACM) per mol of SC through the reactive disulfide bond of SC. The binding of the labeled SC to polymeric immunoglobulins was examined by gel filtration by measuring the fluorescence of DACM at 478 nm. The labeled SC was bound to immunoglobulin M (IgM) and its (Fc)5 mu fragment and to dimeric immunoglobulin A (IgA). When the labeled SC was bound to IgM or the (Fc)5 mu fragment, the fluorescence of DACM increased about 30%. By use of this fluorescence change, quantitative studies were made on the equilibrium and kinetics of the reversible interactions of the labeled SC with two IgM proteins and their (Fc)5 mu fragments at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. All the IgM proteins and their (Fc)5 mu fragments had one binding site per mole of polymers. The affinity constant (6 X 10(8) M-1), the association rate constant (7 X 10(7) M-1 min-1), and the dissociation rate constant (0.1 min-1) of one IgM were different from those of the other IgM (1.7 X 10(9) M-1, 1.0 X 10(8) M-1 min-1, and 0.06 min-1, respectively). However, the values for the (Fc)5 mu fragments of the two proteins were the same (1.9 X 10(9) M-1, 1.1 X 10(8) M-1 min-1, and 0.06 min-1, respectively) and were very similar to those of the IgM with the higher affinity constant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fluorescence studies on lipoamide dehydrogenases of pig heart. II. Microenvironments of tryptophan residues

The tryptophan residues of two forms of pig heart lipoamide dehydrogenase (LD(I) and LD(II] were investigated fluorometrically. The tryptophan contents of LD(I) and LD(II) determined by the fluorescence method were 3 mol and 2 mol per mol of FAD, respectively. These values were in good agreement with those found by the MCD method. The microenvironments of the tryptophan residues were investigated by fluorescence quenching titration with acrylamide. The tryptophan residues of both enzymes were in heterogeneous microenvironments, and CD spectra showed some differences between these microenvironments in the two enzymes. Energy transfer from tryptophan residues to bound FAD was equally efficient in the two enzymes. It seems probable that the three tryptophan residues in LD(I) are all in different microenvironments, but that two of them are in microenvironments almost identical to those of the corresponding residues in LD(II).

Electron transfer between horse heart and Candida krusei cytochromes c in the free and bound states

Electron transfer between horse heart and Candida krusei cytochromes c in the free and phosvitin-bound states was examined by difference spectrum and stopped-flow methods. The difference spectra in the wavelength range of 540-560 nm demonstrated that electrons are exchangeable between the cytochromes c of the two species. The equilibrium constants of the electron transfer reaction for the free and phosvitin-bound forms, estimated from these difference spectra, were close to unity at 20 degrees C in 20 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4). The electron transfer rate for free cytochrome c was (2-3).10(4) M-1.s-1 under the same conditions. The transfer rate for the bound form increased with increase in the binding ratio at ratios below half the maximum, and was almost constant at higher ratios up to the maximum. The maximum electron exchange rate was about 2.10(6) M-1.s-1, which is 60-70 times that for the free form at a given concentration of cytochrome c. The activation energy of the reaction for the bound cytochrome c was equal to that for the free form, being about 10 kcal/mol. The dependence of the exchange rate on temperature, cytochrome c concentration and solvent viscosity suggests that enhancement of the electron transfer rate between cytochromes c on binding to phosvitin is due to increase in the collision frequency between cytochromes c concentrated on the phosvitin molecule.

Relation of the structure and function of ferricytochrome c bound to the phosphoprotein phosvitin

The relationship between the structure and function of ferricytochrome c bound to the phosphoprotein phosvitin was investigated. The rates of reduction of phosvitin-bound ferricytochrome c by cytochrome b2, ascorbate and the superoxide radical generated by xanthine oxidase wer repressed where the binding ratio was less than half the maximum, but at higher ratios they were restored gradually with increase in the ratio. The affinity of cytochrome b2 for cytochrome c was not affected by binding of cytochrome c to phosvitin. The redox potential of the bond form was lower than that of the free form and only decreased with decrease in the ratio. The conformatin around the heme moiety and the electronic structure of the heme group of bound ferricytochrome c were similar to those of free ferricytochrome c, but the conformational stability in the vicinity of the prosthetic group was related to the binding ratio as ratios above half the maximum and was well correlated with the reduction rate. Since the binding of cytochrome c to phosvitin is much stronger at binding ratios below half the maximum, these results suggest that this binding strength exclusively affects the conformational flexibility of the heme crevice in the cytochrome molecule, thus altering the reduction rate.

Biochemical studies on energy metabolism in the conduction system of bovine heart

The conduction system of bovine heart was studied to clarify the characteristics of its energy metabolism. Results showed that its mitochondrial oxygen uptake was much lower than that of ordinary heart muscle with succinate as substrate but similar to that of ordinary heart muscle with glutamate + malate as substrate. The activity of succinate dehydrogenase was lower than that in ordinary heart muscle. The total activity of isozymes of lactate dehydrogenase was lower in the specialized heart muscle than in ordinary heart muscle. The main isozyme of lactate dehydrogenase in the specialized heart muscle was LDH 1 (H4). The cytoplasmic NAD+/NADH ratio as much higher in the specialized heart muscle than in ordinary heart muscle. These results suggest that in the specialized heart muscle energy is mainly derived from aerobic metabolism.

Interaction of cytochrome c with the phosphorprotein phosvitin

Candida krusei cytochrome c forms a molecular complex with phosphorprotein phosvitin in weakly alkaline solution of low ionic strength. At most, about 22 molecules of cytochrome c bind to a phosvitin molecule. The complex at the binding ratio below about 11 (half of the maximum ratio) as a much higher binding strength. Several lines of evidence indicate that the marked difference in the binding strength is due to the difference in negative charges on phosvitin molecule concerned in the binding of a cytochrome c molecule. The phosvitin-bound cytochrome c seems to have a preferred orientation with the front surface of the molecule containing the exposed heme edge in contact with the phosvitin molecule.

Fluorescence studies on lipoamide dehydrogenases of pig heart. I. Conformational dynamics of enzyme

The dynamic structures of two major forms (LD(I) and LD(II) of pig heart lipoamide dehydrogenase, resolved by TEAE-cellulose column chromatography, were studied by fluorescence depolarization. FAD and ANM were used as an intrinsic and an extrinsic fluorescent probe, respectively. In the experiments with bound FAD of lipoamide dehydrogenase, no thermal dependence of the fluorescence depolarization of either enzyme was observed and the values of polarization were close to the theoretical maximum value of 0.5. Both enzymes contained two reactive thiol groups which differed in their reactivities toward ANM. When the enzymes were labeled with one mol of ANM per mol of enzyme, the rotational relaxation times of LD(I) and LD(II) were found to be 18 ns and 196 ns, respectively. These findings indicate that the sement of LD(I) labeled with ANM fluctuates in the order of nanoseconds, whereas this segment of LD(II) is fixed rigidly. On the other hand, when the enzymes were labeled with two mol of ANM per mol of enzyme, both enzymes showed the composite result of fluorescence depolarization due to the motilities of the segment of enzyme and the whole enzyme molecule. These findings indicate that both LD(I) and LD(II) have the non-equivalent motilities of segments containing one reactive thiol group between the two monomers. In other words, the segment containing the ANM binding site of the one monomer is flexible and this segment of the other monomer is fixed rigidly in both enzymes.

Formation of a complex between yeast L-lactate dehydrogenase (cytochrome b2) and cytochrome c. Ultracentrifugal and gel chromatographic analyses

Yeast L-lactate dehydrogenase formed a stable complex with cytochrome c in weakly alkaline solution of low ionic strength. The binding ratio of cytochrome c to the enzyme depended on whether free cytochrome c was present: In the presence of a micromolar concentration of cytochrome c the enzyme formed a complex with about two molecules of cytochrome c, whereas the enzyme was in a 1:1 molecular complex after removal of free cytochrome c. This suggests that the binding of one molecule of cytochrome c changes the affinity of the other binding site on the enzyme for cytochrome c. The enzyme consists of four presumably identical subunits, each containing a binding site for cytochrome c. Thus, present data confirm the concept of negative cooperativity between the subunits of the enzyme molecule in their interaction with cytochrome c.

Properties of crystalline reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-adrenodoxin reductase from bovine adrenocortical mitochonria. I. Physicochemical properties of holo- and apo-NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase and interaction between non-heme iron proteins and the reductase

A crystalline NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase was obtained from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria and its properties were investigated. Its molecular weights and isoelectric point were estimated to be 51 000 and 5.4, respectively. Amino acid and sugar contents and the interaction between the apo-reductase and flavin of NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase were investigated. Formation of a complex of bovine NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase with adrenodoxin, its apoadrenodoxin, or other non-heme iron proteins caused quenching of fluorescence of the tryptophanyl residue and bound FAD of the NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase. The results obatined suggest that adrenodoxin and apoadrenodoxin bind functionally to a site close to the tryptophanyl residue and the bound FAD of the reductase. The circular dichroism spectrum of oxidized NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase was measured in the ultraviolet and visible regions. This spectrum showed negative absorption in the visible region and was not appreciably influenced in either the ultraviolet or visible region by formation of a complex with adrenodoxin or apoadrenodoxin.