A quantitative treatment of the kinetics of the folding transition of ribonuclease A. New experimental data and a quantitative theoretical treatment are given for the kinetics of the thermal folding transition of ribonuclease A at pH 3.0. A three-species mechanism is used as a starting point for the analysis: U1 (slow) in equilibrium U2(fast) in equilibrium N, where U1 and U2 are two forms of the unfolded enzyme with markedly different rates of refolding and N is the native enzyme. This mechanism is based on certain facts established in previous studies of refolding. The kinetics of unfolding and refolding show two phases a fast phase and a slow phase, over a range of temperatures extending above the transition midpoint, Tm. The three-species mechanism can be used in this range. At higher temperatures a new much faster kinetic phase is also observed corresponding to the transient formation of a new intermediate (I). Although the general solution for a four-species mechanism is complex it is not difficult to extend the three-species analysis for the special case found here, in which the fast reaction (I in equilibrium N) is well separated from the other two reactions. At temperatures below the transition zone the slow phase of refolding becomes kinetically complex. No attempt has been made to extend the analysis to include this effect. The basic test of the three-state analysis is the prediction as a function of temperature of alpha2, the relative amplitude of the fast phase, both for unfolding and refolding. At temperatures above Tm for which the three-state analysis must be extended to include the new intermediate I, a crresponding quanitity alpha2(cor) is predicted and compared with measured values. Data used in the three-state prediction are values of tau2 and tau1, the time constants of the fast and slow kinetic phases, plus a single value of alpha2 measured when tau2 and tau1 are well separated. The observed and predicted values of alpha2 agree within experimental error. The analysis predicts correctly that, for these experiments, alpha2 should have the same value in unfolding as in refolding in the final conditions. The analysis also predicts satisfactorily the equilibrium transition curve from kinetic data alone. Four striking properties of the kinetics are  explained or correlated by the analysis: (a) the drop in alpha2 to a minimum near Tm as well as the delayed rise in alpha2 above Tm;(b) the vanishing of alpha1 above the transition zone; (c) the sharp drop in tau1 inside the transition zone followed by a partial leveling off outside this zone; and (d) the passage of tau2 through a maximum near Tm. Through a comparison of observed and predicted values of alpha2, the analysis also rules out the alternative three-species mechanism U1 (slow) in equilibrium N (fast) in equilibrium U2. Finally, the temperature dependence of the amplitude for the fast reaction (I in equilibrium N) is discussed; the behavior of I is like that of U2 and I may be an unfolded species populated at equilibrium...


Rate enhancement specificity with alpha-chymotrypsin: temperature dependence of deacylation. The relative rate of the hydrolysis of 2-(5-n-alkyl)furoyl-alpha-chymotrypsin reaches a maximum with the propyl derivative. The Arrhenius plots for the hydrolyses of the 2-furoyl-, 2-(5-ethyl)furoyl-, and 2-(5-n-propyl)furoyl-alpha-chymotrypsins display a discontinuity, while the plots obtained with the ramaining furoyl derivatives 5-methyl, 5-n-butyl, and 5-n-amyl are linear. We conclude that the deacylation of the furoyl derivatives of alpha-chymotrypsin involves a minimum of two elementary reaction steps. Depending upon the reaction conditions, rate enhancement specificity appears to be either entropy or enthalpy controlled.


Optimal conditions and specificity of interaction of a distinct class of nonhistone chromosomal proteins with DNA. A subclass of nonhistone chromatin proteins with high DNA affinity has been isolated from rat liver. The interaction of the isolated proteins with DNA in vitro was characterized utilizing a nitrocellulose filter binding technique. The temperature, time, concentration, ionic strength, and pH dependence were characterized. Optimal interaction was observed at 0.19 M naCl, pH 7.5 with a protein to DNA ratio of 13 (w/w). Equilibrium and kinetic competition experiments indicated that these proteins interact optimally with A-T rich and single-stranded DNA. The data also suggest that these proteins might affect the helixcoil transiton of DNA.


The subcellular distribution of adenylate and guanylate cyclases in murine lymphoid cells. Membrane vesicles can be prepared from murine lymphoid cells by nitrogen cavitation and fractionated by sedimentation through nonlinear sucrose density gradients. Two subpopulations of membrane vesicles, PMI and PMII, can be distinguished on the basis of sedimentation rate. The subcellular distribution of adenylate and guanylate cyclases in these membrane subpopulations have been compared with the distribution of a number of marker enzymes. Approximately 20-30% of the total adenylate and guanylate cyclase activity is located at the top of the sucrose gradient (soluble enzyme), the remainder of the activity being distributed in the PMI and PMII fractions (membrane-bound enzyme). More than 90% of the 5'-nucleotidase and NADH oxidase activities detected in lymphoid cell homogenates are located in PMI and PMII fractions, whereas succinate cytochrome c reductase activity is detected only in the PMII fractions. In addition, beta-galactosidase activity is distributed in the soluble and PMII fractions of the sucrose density gradients. On the basis of the fractionation patterns of these various enzyme activities, it appears that PMI fractions contain vesicles of plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum, whereas PMII fractions contain mitochondria, lysomes, and plasma membrane vesicles. Approximately 30-40% of the adenylate and guanylate cyclase activities in PMII can be converted to a PMI-like form following dialysis and resedimentation through a second nonlinear sucrose gradient. Adenylate and guanulate cyclases can be distinguished on the basis of sensitivity to nonionic detergents.


Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance study of fluorotyrosine alkaline phosphatase: the influence of zinc on protein structure and a conformational change induced by phosphate binding. 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been used to study a fully active E. coli fluorotyrosine alkaline phosphatase. The fluorotyrosine resonances provide sensitive probes of the conformational states of the protein. They were used to follow the addition of zinc or cobalt to the apoprotein, and the titration of the protein with inorganic phosphate or the inhibitor 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzylphosphonate. The results indicate that 2 molecules of inorganic phosphate per dimer of alkaline phosphatase are required to complete a general conformational change in the protein involving perturbations to the environment of several tyrosines. Spectra of the cobalt enzyme indicate that on specific tyrosine per subunit may be near the metal site. The 19F NMR results, combined with the 31P NMR results in the accompanying paper, lead directly to the conclusion  that dissociation of noncovalently bound inorganic phosphate from the enzyme is the rate-limiting process in enzyme catalysis at high pH. The local environment of the individual fluorotyrosines is also discussed.


31P nuclear magnetic resonance study of alkaline phosphatase: the role of inorganic phosphate in limiting the enzyme turnover rate at alkaline pH. 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to directly observe the binding of inorganic phosphate to alkaline phosphatase. Evidencq for the tight binding of 1.5-2.0 mol of inorganic phosphate per dimer of alkaline phosphatase is presented. Two distinct forms of bound phosphate are observed, one predominating above pH 7 and representing the non-covalent E-P1 complex and the other predominating below pH 5 and representing the covalent E-P1 complex. The 31P NMR line width of the E-P1 complex indicates that the dissociation of noncovalent phosphate is the rate-limiting step in the turnover of the enzyme at high pH.


An analysis of the autophosphorylation of rabbit and human erythrocyte membranes. The autophosphorylation of rabbit and human erythrocyte membranes has been studied under various experimental conditions. The phosphopeptides of the erythocyte membranes were identified using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis followed by ratioautography. The pattern of phosphorylatiion of membrane components differs with respect to the phosphoryl donor used (ATP or GTP) and to the pH at which the reaction is carried out. Both species appear to contain at least two distinct membrane-bound protein kinases. The human erythrocyte membrane contains a cyclic adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase and several substrates for this kinase. Only ATP can be used as a phosphoryl donor for this kinase. In contrast, the rabbit erythrocyte membrane does not contain a cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase but does contain a kinase which utilizes only ATP as the phosphoryl donor and is specific for certain endogenous substrates at low pH. Both the human and  rabbit erythrocyte membranes contain a kinase which utilizes GTP, perhaps also ATP, as the phosphoryl donor. The substrates of these kinases are similar in both species.


Glutamine synthetase adenylyltransferase from Escherichia coli: purification and physical and chemical properties. The glutamine synthetase adenylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.42), WHIch catalyzes the adenylylation and deadenylylation of glutamine synthetase in E. coli, has been stabilized and purified 2200-fold to apparent homogeneity. Sedimentation and electrophoresis studies show that the native enzyme is a single polypeptide chain of 115,000 +/- 5000 molecular weight with an isoelectric pH (PL) OF 4.98, a sedimentation coefficient (S20.w0) of 5.6S, and a molar frictional coefficient (f/f0) of 1.52. An alpha-helical content of approximately equal to 25% and approximately equal to 28% beta-pleated sheet and approximately equal to 47% random coil structures were estimated from circular dichroism measurements. The amino acid composition of the protein has been determined. The intrinsic tryptophanyl residue flourescence of adenylyltransferase is two fold greater than that of L-tryptophan; this property has been used to monitor ligand-induced conformational changes in the enzyme. Activators of the adenylylation reaction (ATP, L-glutamine, or the E. coli PII regulatory protein) produced an enhancement of fluorescence; alpha-ketoglutarate, an inhibitor of adenylylation and an activator of deadenulylation, caused a net decrease in fluorescence. The adenylytransferase has separate interaction sites for L-glutamine and the regulatory PII protein.


The esterification of dolichol by rat liver microsomes. The incubation of 1-[3H)dolichols with cell-free preparations from various rat tissues resulted in the formation of a labeled material which possessed the characteristics of synthetic dolichol palmitate. Rat liver microsomes were found to be a good source of the acyltransferase activity, and the properties of the reaction were investigated using microsomal preparations. The reaction did not require ATP, CoA, or Mg2+ and was stimulated by the addition of phosphatidylcholine. The esterification of dolichol appears to be similar to the esterification of retinol. The fact that the esterification of dolichol is not depressed even in the presence of a several-fold excess of retinol is evidence that the two reactions are catalyzed by different enzymes.


Preparation of Fv fragment from the mouse myeloma XRPC-25 immunoglobulin possessing anti-dinitrophenyl activity. The myeloma IgA protein produced by plasmacytoma XRPC-25, was isolated by affinity chromatography on dinitrophenyllysine-Sepharose. The affinity constant of the intact protein or its Fab' toward 2,4-dinitrophenyl-L-lysine (Dnp) was found to be 2.6 X 10(5) M-1. In order to prepare an Fv fragment (Hochman, J., Inbar, D., and Givol, D. (1973), Biochemistry 12, 1130) from this protein, the heavy and light chains were separated and the light chain was digested with trypsin at pH 8.2 to yield half a light chain. This digest was reassociated with the heavy chain and the recombinant was digested with papain at pH 5.7. Fractionation of this digest on a Sephadex G-75 column and Dnp-lysine-Sepharose resulted in the isolation of an Fv fragment which possesses one binding site for Dnplysine (Ka = 2.0 X 10(5) M-1). The active Fv fragment has a molecular weight of 23,400 and is composed of two peptide chains, each having a molecular weight of approximately 12,000. The N-terminal residues of these chains are aspartic and glutamic acids, which are also N-terminal in the heavy and light chains, indicating that the Fv is composed of VL and VH.


Purification and properties of a low molecular weight protein factor of mitochondrial energy-linked functions. 1. A soluble protein with a molecular weight of 11-12-10(3) has been isolated from bovine-heart mitochondria, which stimulates the following ATP-dependent reactions of submitochondrial particles treated with 0.6 mM EDTA and 1 M NH4OH: reverse electron transfer from succinate to NAD, transhydrogenation from NADH to NADP, and ATP-Pi exchange. The factor has no effect on the NADH oxidase, succinate oxidase and ATPase activities of the particles. 2. The stimulatory effect of the factor in the ATP-dependent reduction of NAD by succinate is 12 mumol-min-1-mg-1 of the factor protein. However, the NH4OH-EDTA treated particles are saturated for maximal activation of the above reaction by very small amounts of the factor (about 20-40 mug factor per mg particle). 3. Electrophoresis of the factor preparation on polyacrylamide gels showed a single protein band plus a nonprotein material which moved at the dye front and was weakly stained with Coomassie Blue. The protein was shown to be required for activation of the particles; whether the fast-moving, nonprotein material is also required is not known. 4. The factor is inhibited by mercurials and N-ethylmaleimide. The former, but not the latter, inhibition is completely reversed by 1,4-dithiothreitol. 5. The NH4OH-EDTA treated particles are also stimulated by rutamycin up to about 0.1 nmol of rutamycin per mg particle; higher rutamycin concentrations inhibit. Depending on the particle preparation, the factor stimulates up to about 3 nmol per mg particle, but does not inhibit at higher concentrations. In addition, under certain conditions in which appropriate concentrations of rutamycin fail to stimulate the particles, the factor still does.


Effect of the transmembrane electric field on the photochemical and quenching properties of photosystem II in vivo. The intermediate phase of fluorescence relaxation (lms-ls) (Joliot, P., Joliot, A., Bouges, B, and Barbieri, G. (1971) Photochem. Photobiol. 14, 287-305), following a single saturating flash, is shown to be controlled by a slow phase of the reoxidation of Q- by a secondary acceptor and, in vivo, by the transmembrane electric field. The kinetics of reoxidation of Q- are slowed by lowering the pH. This slowing effect is interpreted in terms of the reversible formation at low pH of QH which is not oxidizable by the secondary acceptor. The electric field transforms Photosystem II centers into a non-quenching photochemically inactive state that cannot be attributed to an accumulation of Q-. Centers are unequally sensitive to the field. A critical field strength can be defined for each center above which that center is blocked and below which the center is photochemically active. The transformation from the active to inactive state occurs over a narrow range of field strength. Sensitive centers are blocked by the field in less than 1 ms and become active again in less than 10 ms as the field strength falls. Two hypotheses are proposed for the mechanism of blockage of centers by the field: (1) a field induced conformational change in the centers, (2) the formation or suppression of a dipole critical to the function of a center. The activity of the ATP synthetase, determining the rate of relaxation of the field, was controlled by a light-dark treatment or by a chemical method using p-benzoquinone.


Determination of H+/e- ratios in chloroplasts with flashing light. Using a rapid pH electrode, measurements were made of the flash-induced proton transport in isolated spinach chloroplasts. To calibrate the system, we assumed that in the presence of ferricyanide and in steady-state flashing light, each flash liberates from water one proton per reaction chain. We concluded that with both ferricyanide and methylviologen as acceptors two protons per electron are translocated by the electron transport chain connecting Photosystem II and I. With methyl viologen but not with ferricyanide as an acceptor, two additional protons per electron are taken up due to Photosystem I activity. One of these latter protons is translocated to the inside of the thylakoid while the other is taken up in H2O2 formation. Assuming that the proton released during water splitting remains inside the thylakoid, we compute H+/e- ratios of 3 and 4 for ferricyanide and methylviologen, respectively. In continuous light of low intensity, we obtained the same H+/e- ratios. However, with higher intensities where electron transport becomes rate limited by the internal pH, the H+/e- ratio approached 2 as a limit for both acceptors. A working model is presented which includes two sites of proton translocation, one between the photoacts, the other connected to Photosystem I, each of which translocates two protons per electron. Each site presents a approximately 30 ms diffusion barrier to proton passage which can be lowered by uncouplers to 6-10 ms.


[Study of the mechanism of the effect of extracellular pH on the synthesis of the oxidative complex (cytochrome a+a3) of Bacillus coagulans: relationship to the "glucose effect" and role of excreted coproporphyrin III (author's transl)]. During the "respiratory adaptation" of Bacillus coagulans, it was possible to dissociate the kinetics of cytochrome a and a3 synthesis with carbon monoxide. The synthesis of cytochrome a3 is preferentially repressed when the pH of the incubation medium is pH 6.5 instead of pH 5.5. However, though the total synthesis of tetrapyrrole compounds is the same at both pH values, the excretion of coproporphyrin III is much increased at pH 6.5. Bacillus coagulans, sensitive to the "glucose effect", shows the "pH effect" only in the presence of high glucose concentrations. The repression of the oxidase complex synthesis by a slight increase of the extracellular pH appears directly related to the increase of the extracellular coproporphyrin III.


The effect of retinol and retinoic acid on the testicular phospholipase a activity in retinol-deficient rats. Both phospholipases A1 and A2 activities (EC 3.1.1.4) at pH 7.4 were found to be significantly decreased in retinol-deficient rat testes supplemented with retinoic acid as compared to retinol-fed controls using 1-acyl-2-[1-(14)C]-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine as substrate. However, little or no difference was observed in phospholipase A1 activity at pH 3.0 in both groups of rats.


Enzymatic properties of cloacin DF13 and kinetics of ribosome inactivation. 1. The cloacin DF13-induced inactivation of ribosomes in vitro can be described as an enzyme-catalyzed reaction according to the Michaelis-Menten equation. Most probably the cloacin acts as a unique endoribonuclease. 2. At pH 7.8 and 37 degrees C the Km value for the reaction of cloacin DF13 with ribosomes is 13.2 - 10(-6) M. If under these conditions the reaction mixture is supplemented with all components necessary for protein synthesis, the Km changes to 17.7 - 10(-6) M. 3. The in vitro activity of cloacin DF13 has a temperature optimum of 43 degrees C at pH 7.8 and a pH optimum of 8.4 at 37 degtees C. 4. Experiments with cloacin DF13-immunity protein as an inhibitor of the cloacin activity in vitro have indicated that the immunity protein might be considered as a non-competitive and virtually "irreversible" inhibitor.


Transfer RNA methyltransferase activity in paramecium aurelia. The tRNA methyltransferases from Paramecium aurelia were investigated. The effects of varying the Mg2+ and NH4+ concentrations, pH, and temperature on the methylation of Escherichia coli B tRNA using extracts from P. aurelia were determined. Optimum tRNA methyltransferase activity was observed at pH 7.8 and 37 degrees C. The Mg2+ optimum occurred at 0.66 mM in the absence of NH4+ while the NH4+ optimum occurred at 100 mM in the absence of Mg2+. Analysis of the bases methylated in (E. coli B) tRNA by extracts of P. aurelia showed the presence of 1-methyladenine, 1-methylguanine, N2-methylguanine, N2,N2-dimethylguanine and methylated pyrimidine nucleotides. In comparison, an analysis of the in vivo methylation of tRNA from P. aurelia showed the presence of 1-methyladenine, 6-methyladenine, 6,6-dimethyladenine, 1-methylguanine, N2-methylguanine, N2,N2-dimethylguanine, 7-methylguanine, and methylated pyrimidine nucleotides. The pattern of methylation of tRNA in P. aurelia is similar to that observed in other eukaryotes.


The effect of silver ion binding and pH on the buoyant density of DNA and its use in fractionating heterogeneous DNA. 1. The effect of pH on the buoyant density of the complexes of Ag+ with DNA has been studied using 3H-labeled human DNA and several bacterial DNAs to determine the conditions necessary for the maximum resolution of compositional heterogeneity. In neutral CS2SO4 density gradients, Ag+ complexes with (G - C)-rich components are always denser than those with (A - T)-rich components, since (G - C)rich DNAs have a larger affinity for Ag+ than (A - T)-rich DNAs and their complexes are denser than (A - T)-rich complexes. In alkaline (pH greater than 9) CS2SO4 gradients, the buoyant density of the Ag+ - DNA complex is not a simple function of base composition. The Ag+ affinity of (A - T)-rich DNA is larger than that of (G - C)-rich DNA but the density of a (G - C)-rich complex is larger. Thus the ordering of the buoyant density changes depends on the amount of added Ag+. 2. The problem of resolving the density heterogeneity within a tracer DNA, and minor components of DNA, is explored and useful fractionation techniques are developed.


Comparison of purple membrane from Halobacterium cutirubrum and Halobacterium halabium. Direct comparison of purple membrane preparations from Halobacterium cutirubrum and Halobacterium halobium was carried out. Both preparations were found to be essentially identical with respect to their molecular weight, retinal content, lipid composition, fingerprinting of peptides from peptide digestion, electron micrographs and X-ray diffraction patterns, and behaviour as a light-activated proton pump. Thus, there would appear to be no species differences in the purple membranes from these two bacteria.


Kinetics of ion translocation across charged membranes mediated by a two-site transport mechanism. Effects of polyvalent cations upon rubidium uptake into yeast cells. (1) The effect of surface charge upon the kinetics of monovalent cation translocation via a two-site mechanism is investigated theroretically. (2) According to the model dealt with, typical relations are expected for the dependence of the kinetic parameters of the translocation process upon the concentration of a polyvalent cation, differing essentially from those derived for the case in which the membrane carries no excess charge. (3) Even when a polyvalent cation does not compete with the substrate cation for binding to the translocation sites, apparently competitive inhibition may occur when the membrane is negatively charged. (4) The model is tested experimentally by studying the effects of the polyvalent cations Mg2+, Sr2+, Ca2+, Ba2+ and Al3+ upon Rb+ uptake into yeast cells at pH 4.5 A good applicability is found. (5) Equimolar concentrations of polyvalent cations reduce the rate of the Rb+ uptake into yeast cells in the order Mg2+ less than Sr2+ less than Ca2+ less than Ba2+ less than Al3+. (6) The conclusion is reached that the reduction in the rate of Rb+ uptake caused by the polyvalent cations applied results mainly from screening of the negative fixed charges on the membrane surface and binding to these negative sites rather than competition with Rb+ for the transport sites. (7) The results of our investigation indicate the affinity of the alkaline-earth cations for the negative fixed charges on the surface to the yeast cell membrane increases in the orther Mg2+ less than Sr2 less than Ca2+ less than Ba2+. (8) Probably mainly phosphoryl groups determine the net charge on the membrane of the yeast cell at a medium pH of 4.5.


The structure of monellin and its relation to the sweetness of the protein. The sweet protein monellin [1-3] has been shown to consist of two non-identical subunits of 50 and 42 amino acid residues, which were separated electrophoretically and chromatographically. Automatic sequential Edman degradation gave the complete sequence of the longer subunit, and a partial sequency of the shorter one. It was found that the sweetness of monellin requires the undissociated molecule. The individual subunits were not sweet, neither did they block the sweet sensation of sucrose or monellin. Blocking of the single SH of monellin abolished its sweetness as did reaction of the single methionyl residue with CNBr. Since the cysteinyl and methionyl residues appear to be adjacent, it is suggested that this part of the molecule is essential for its sweetness.


Anomalous fluorescence of yeast 3-phosphoglucerate kinase. The 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (EC 2.7.2.3) of yeast which contains two tryptophyl and eight tyrosyl residues per molecule, displayed an unusualy fluorescence emission spectrum with a maximum at 308 nm when excited at 280 nm. The emission peak shifted to 329 nm when excited at 295 nm. We could confirm that it was due to the efficient quenching of tryptophyl fluorescence as well as to the incomplete energy transfer from tyrosyl to tryptophyl residues. The average fluorescence quantum yield of this protein was 0.076 (excitation at 280 nm) and that of tryptophyl residues was 0.046 (excitation at 295 nm). As the pH of the solution was lowered, the fluorescence intensity of phosphoglycerate kinase at 329 nm dramatically increased between pH 5 and 4, while the position of the peak remained unchanged. When denatured in 4 M guanidine hydrochloride, the protein showed two emission peaks, one at 343 nm and the other at 303 nm.


Binding of norgestrel to human plasma proteins. Binding of [14, 15-3H](+/-)-norgestrel to human plasma proteins has been investigated. Norgestrel showed greater affinity to plasma than to human serum albumin indicating specific norgestrel binding protein(s) in the plasma. alpha1-acid glycoprotein showed high affinity for norgestrel when compared with human serum albumin. The binding protein was eluted at pH 5.8 by step by step elution on a DEAE-cellulose column. Norgestrel binding to plasma proteins was not affected at 60 degrees C. The optimal binding occurred between pH 7 and 8. Ligand specificity of the binding protein revealed that progesterone was able to compete for the norgestrel binding sites, whereas corticosterone, testosterone, oestradiol, and norethindrone acetate did not show much competition. The molecular weight of the binding protein was found to be approximately 43 000. Sucrose density gradient analysis indicated that norgestrel bound to a macromolecular component of sedimentation coefficient 2.9 S. The association constant (Kass) and dissociation constant (Kdiss) of norgestrel-binding plasma protein was found to be 1.4-10(6) M-1 and 0.7-10(-6) M respectively. The number of binding sites was 0.5-10(-9) mol/mg protein. Norgestrel-binding protein in the plasma appeared to be a protein different from human serum albumin, corticosteroid-binding globulin and sex-steroid-binding protein. This binding protein showed some similarities to alpha1-acid glycoprotein.


Equilbrium and kinetics of the unfolding of alpha-lactalbumin by guanidine hydrochloride (II). The reversible unfolding of alpha-lactalbumin by guanidine hydrochloride, was studied at 25.0 degrees C in a relatively low concentration range of the denaturant (0.80-2.00 mol/l) by means of difference spectra and pH-jump measurements. The unfolding was shown to occur between two states, N and D, because apparent rate-constants of the unfolding and the refolding reactions depended only on pH. All curves plotted as the logarithmical equilibrium constant log KD against pH could fall on the same base curve by shifting each curve along the log KD axis. From the dependence of the logarithmic rate constant on pH, master curves could also be made for the forward and the backward reactions. The dependence of these master curves on pH indicates that the groups affecting the pH dependence of the unfolding are three residues with pKN = 3.3 and pKA = pKD = 4.4, one residue with pKN = pKA = 3.8 and pKD = 4.4, and one residue with pKN = 5.8 and pKA = pKD = 6.3, where A indicates the activated state. On the other hand, from the denaturant activity dependence of the shift factors required for making the master curves, the value of the intrinsic binding constant of the denaturant to the protein was found to be similar to that obtained from previous measurements at pH 5.5. Differences between the numbers of the binding sites of the denaturant on the denaturated and the native proteins, and between those on the activated and the native proteins were shown to be 5.3 and 2.1, respectively. The free energy of stabilization in the native-like environment also shows that the protein in the native state is more unstable than lysozyme.


Fluorimetric studies of tryptophyl exposure in concanavalin A. Studies of the iodide ion quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence of Concanavalin A indicate that 50% of the tryptophyl fluorescence originates from exposed residues. This agrees with the X-ray crystallographic determination that two of the four tryptophan residues in a Concanavalin A monomer are on the surface. Previous studies have indicated that conformational changes induced by sugar binding alter the environment of aromatic residues. The present investigation finds that neither the specific binding of alpha-methyl-D-mannoside nor alteration of the Concanavalin A quaternary structure changes the number or accessibility of the solvent-exposed tryptophan residues. It therefore appears that the major conformational transitions in Concanavalin A do not affect steric access to the surface tryptophans and the effects previously observed may be ascribed to structurally internal tryptophan residues.


A study of Folch-Pi apoprotein. II. Relation between polymerization state and conformation. A comparison of the conformation of Folch-Pi apoprotein in organic solvent and in aqueous solutions has been made by ESR, infrared and circular dichroism spectroscopy studies. Electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation have been carried out in order to correlate molecular weight and charge of the molecule with its conformation. It appears that the protein is monomeric in organic solution. In water, only one component is present but the molecules behave as a polydisperse system of associating molecules. Hydrophobic interacitons seem to be important for this polymerisation which does not appear to be accompanied by the formation of beta-structure. After the transfer of the protein from organic solution to water, the ESR spectra of the protein labelled on the free SH groups show an heterogeneity in the motional environment of the label which permits to assume that different areas of association exist in the polymeric molecule.


Response of the glycolysis of human erythrocytes to the transition from the oxygenated to the deoxygenated state at constant intracellular pH. The time course of the rate of the glycolysis of human erythrocytes and of some metabolites were determined before and after rapid deoxygenation at constant intracellular pH. For this purpose stripped deoxygenated haemoglobin was used as a rapid oxygen acceptor. Deoxygenation causes an increase of the glycolytic rate by 26%. Glucose 6-phosphate is decreased while the adenine nucleotides and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate remain constant. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and the triose phosphates decrease transiently before rising. The data can be explained by increased binding of phosphocompounds to deoxygenated as compared with oxygenated haemoglobin. Thereby the control enzymes hexokinase and phosphofructokinase are influenced. It is concluded that under physiological conditions changes in the oxygenation state of haemoglobin per se alter the glycolytic rate.


Intracellular pH of frog sartorius muscle. A weak base, morpholine, has been labelled with 3H and tested for its suitability as an indicator for intracellular pH, by distribution in the tissue water of frog sartorius muscle in the species Hyla litoria. Its pK'a at 20 degrees C in a solution of the same ionic strength as frog Ringer was found to be 8.45 +/- 0.02, which is in the range of maximal sensitivity. Morpholine equilibrated with the tissue in 17 h; it was shown that it was not bound to intracellular constituents, that it was not metabolised nor toxic in the concentrations used; it was therefore judged suitable as a pH indcator. Intracellular pH was then measured by distribution of morpholine (6.985 +/- 0.08), nicotine (6.915 +/- 0.03) and the weak acid 5,5'-dimethyl-2,4-oxazolidinedione (7.10 +/- 0.05) and the pH-sensitive microelectrodes (5.9, the equilibrium value). It was shown that the four significantly different values could not be reconciled in terms of experimental error, heterogeneity of intracellular pH, liquid junction potential differences, or binding of indicator molecules inside the fibre. They could, however, be reconciled if the fibre water had different structure and solvent properties from the extracellular water and all ions were distributed across the membrane as between two liquid phases containing different solvents. Then the H+ would be in equilibrium, as shown by the microelectrode measurement, but intracellular pH would be indeterminable and probably greater than 6.


Activation of murine lymphocytes by cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate: specificity and role in mitogen activity. Cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) stimulates nucleic acid synthesis in lymphocytes, and has been implicated as the intracellular effector of the actions of mitogenic agents on these cells. In the present study, we examined the specificity of the mitogenic activity of cyclic GMP and of its 8-bromo (Br) derivatives, and the effects of the T cell mitogens, concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and staphylococcal entertoxin B (SEB) on the cyclic GMP content and guanylate cyclase activity of mouse splenic lymphocytes. Cyclic GMP and guanosine modestly increased the incorporation of [3H] thymidine into DNA by cultured lymphocytes, but were far less effective than their 8-Br-guanosine and 8-Br-5'-GMP exceeded that of 8-Br-cyclic GMP, when tested in the presence and absence of serum in the culture media. Combined addition of maximal doses of these nucleotides did not give additive stimulatory effects, suggesting an action on a common subpopulation of cells, and possibly a common mechanism. By contrast, cyclic AMP, 8-Br-cyclic AMP, 8-Br-adenosine, cholera toxin and prostaglandin E1 suppressed both basal [3H]thymidine incorporation and stimulation of this parameter by T-cell mitogens and the guanine nucleotides. Rapid effects of concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, SEB, guanosine, 5'-GMP, 8-Br-guanosine, and 8-Br-5'-GMP on the cyclic GMP content of murine lymphocytes could not be demonstrated. Similarly, concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin and SEB failed to alter guanylate cyclase activity when added directly to cellular homogenates or pre-incubated with intact cells. Conversely, carbamylcholine rapidly increased lymphocyte cyclic GMP but was not mitogenic. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP are antagonistic in their influence on lymphocyte mitogenesis. However, they also demonstrate that related nucleotides are more potent mitogens than cyclic GMP itself and suggest that activation of murine lymphocytes by concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin and SEB may not be mediated by rapid increases in cellular cyclic GMP content. Since high concentrations of exogenous cyclic GMP and related nucleotides must be used to influence DNA synthesis, the biologic significance of this effect remains uncertain.


Characterization of protein kinases from bovine parotid glands. The effect of tolbutamide and its derivative on these partially purified enzymes. 1. Four fractions of protein kinase (EC 2.7.1.37) activity (Peak IH, IIH, IIIC and IVC) have been resolved and partially purified from the 100 000 X g supernatant fraction of bovine parotid glands by DEAE-cellulose and phosphocellulose chromatographies. 2. The protein kinases of Peak IH and IIH were adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) -dependent and had similar enzymic properties. The enzyme activities of Peak IIIC and IVC were cyclic-AMP independent, but there were some distinct differences between their properties. The protein kinase in Peak IIIC was activated by 0.2 M NaCl or KCl and phosphorylated casein preferentially as the substrate, utilizing only ATP as a phosphate donor. On the other hand, the protein kinase in Peak IVC was inhibited by univalent salts and preferred phosvitin to casein, utilizing either ATP or GTP as a phosphate donor. 3. Tolbutamide increased the Km value for ATP and the dissociation constant for cyclic AMP, resulting in the inhibition of cyclic-AMP dependent protein kinase activity in the presence of cyclic AMP. Tolbtamide and its carboxy derivative, 1-butyl-3-p-carboxyphenylsulfonylurea, exerted almost no inhibitory effect on either the cyclic-AMP dependent protein kinase activities in the absence of cyclic AMP or on the cyclic-AMP independent protein kinase activities.


A study of the single polypeptide nature of rhodanese. A comparison of different preparations. The enzyme rhodanese (EC 2.8.1.1) appears as a single polypeptide chain protein on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of this species is approx. 33 000. This contrasts with previous reports that rhodanese behaves on gel filtration chromatography as a rapidly equilibrating monomer-dimer system composed of identical subunits with a molecular weight of 18 500. We have investigated this apparent discrepancy by isolating the enzyme by the two different preparative procedures used in the above investigations. The two crystalline samples were subjected to gel filtration chromatography under a wide variety of conditions and to sodium dodecyl sulfate disc gel electrophoresis. The two preparations yielded rhodanese which behaved identically and no evidence for the monomeric species was obtained under any experimental condition tested. Thin-layer gel chromatography of clarified liver homogenates gave no evidence of rhodanese species other than that present in the purified samples. The variation in molecular weights observed in gel filtration chromatography may be a reflection of the conformational mobility of the enzyme leading to solvent-dependent changes in Stokes radius. If rhodanese is dimeric, special interactions must stabilize it under the conditions tested here.


Characterization of intracellular esterase A from Bacillus subtilis. Esterase A (EC 3.1.1.1) obtained by sonic disruption of Bacillus subtilis SR22 (spoA12, trpC2) was purified approximately 400-fold by differential chemical and heating precipitation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and Bio-Rad P-150 gel filtration chromatography, with an overall yield of 59%. The purified enzyme hydrolyzed both aliphatic and aromatic acetate esters at substrate concentrations of 0.25 M but did not hydrolyze amino acid esters. Aliphatic alcohols did not inhibit the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate; the most potent inhibitors of esterase activity were mercuric chloride, diisopropylfluorophosphate, eserine, and sodium fluoride.


[Cow's milk alkaline phospharase. II. Subunit structure, metalloproteic nature and kinetic parameters (author's transl)]. Alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) from cow's milk as a dimer comprising two identical or very similar subunits of about 85 000 molecular weight. The enzyme contains 4.9 +/- 0.6 gatoms of zinc per mol of protein. The essential kinetic properties are the same as those of other alkaline phosphatases: variation of pH optimum value, the lack of specificity, increase of Km and V with pH value. The phosphotransferase activity is enlarged, at constant concentration of acceptor, with an increasing concentration of donor. The small size of molecules and the presence of hydroxyls and amino groups increase the percentage of transfer phosphate. The phosphotransferase reaction is better with the D-isomer of serine and the enzyme possesses a more important affinity for the D-phosphoserine.


Kinetic properties of pulmonary angiotensin-converting enzyme. Hydrolysis of hippurylglycylglycine. Some of the kinetic properties of angiotensin-converting enzyme (peptidyl-dipeptide hydrolase, EC 3.4.15.1) purified from hog lung have been determined using hippurylglycylglycine as substrate. The effects of pH and ionic environment on enzyme activity are complex and interdependent. At 0.1 M NaCl, the pH-activity curve shows an abrupt decrease in V/Km as the pH rises from 6 to 6.5, implying that ionization of a group in the enzyme with a pK in this range aids in binding of the substrate. Chloride is required for enzyme activity; there are two phases in the effect of NaCl. At both pH 6 AND 8, THE FIRST PHASE (UP TO 0.1 M NaCl) is activation. The second phase (above 0.1 M) at pH 6 is inhibition, while at pH 8 there is further activation which appears to be dependent upon ionic strength rather than a specific Cl-effect. Activation by cobalt and inhibition by EDTA are somewhat more effective at pH 6 than at pH 8. The nonapeptide inhibitor less than Glu-Trp-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gln-Ile-Pro-Pro is nearly equipotent at both pH 6 and 8, but Arg-Pro-Pro is more inhibitory at pH 8 than at pH 6.


Separation and properties of the NAD-linked and NADP-linked isozymes of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase in Euglena gracilis z. Euglena gracilis z contained two succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenases (EC 1.2.1.16), one requiring NAD and the other NADP, and these isozymes were separated from each other and partially purified. The NAD-linked isozyme was relatively stable on storage at 5 degrees C whereas the NADP-linked one was extremely unstable unless 30% glycerol or ethyleneglycol was added. The optimum pH was 8.7 and optimum temperature 35-45 degrees C for both isozymes. They were inhibited by Zn2+ and activated, particularly the NAD-linked enzyme, by K+. Sulfhydryl reagents activated both isozymes. The Km values for succinic semialdehyde were 1.66 - 10(-4) M with the NAD-linked isozyme and 1.06 - 10(-3) M with the NADP-linked one. The NADP-linked isozyme was induced by glutamate while the NAD-linked one was not. Probable roles of these isozymes in the physiology of Euglena gracilis are discussed.


Activation of tyrosine hydroxylase by polyanions and salts. An electrostatic effect. The activity of a partially purified preparation of tyrosine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.2) from the bovine caudate nucleus was increased by heparin, chondroitin sulfate, phosphatidylserine, polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl sulfuric acid and both poly-D-, and poly-L-glutamic acids, all polyanions. A variety of salts both activated the enzyme and prevented the activation by the polyanions. The observations that activity is increased when the enzyme interacts with salts and with macromolecules of high negative charge density are used to infer a model for these interactions and for the structural change in the enzyme that accompanies activation.


Glycolipid glycosyl transferases of a hamster cell line in culture. I. Kinetic constants, substrate and donor nucleotide sugar specificities. The properties of enzymes catalysing the transfer of a galactose from UDP-galactose to exogenous ceramide monohexoside and ceramide di-hexoside derived from the Syrian hamster cell line NIL 2 were studied. The products of these enzymes were characterized by chemical and enzymatic methods. Kinetic analyses showed that the enzymes are susceptible to inhibition and activation by a number of substrate analogues. The kinetic and inhibition constants, glycolipid substrate specificity and nucleotide sugar donor specificity have been studied.


Pigeon liver diacetyl reductase. Effects of pH on the kinetic parameters of the reaction. (1) The pH dependence of the kinetic parameters of the reaction catalyzed by pigeon liver diacetyl reductase (EC 1.1.1.5) was investigated in the pH range 5.1-8.6. (2) From the results obtained it is postulated that: (a), a group of pK around 7, active in the protonated form, participates in the interaction of the enzyme with NADH and NAD. (b), a second group with a pK of 8.4, active in the protonated form too, takes part in the binding of diacetyl to E-NADH. (c) A third group of pK about 4.7-5, active in the unprotonated form, is involved at least in the dissociation of the complex E-NAD and in the attachment of diacetyl to E-NADH.


Alkylation of cysteinyl residues of pig heart NAD-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase by iodoacetate. Pig heart NAD-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase is inactivated by reaction with iodoacetate at pH 6.0. Loss of activity can be attributed to the formation of 1-2 mol of carboxymethyl-cysteine per peptide chain. The rate of inactivation is markedly decreased by the combined addition of Mn2+ and isocitrate, but not by alpha-ketoglutarate, the coenzyme NAD or the allosteric activator ADP. The substrate concentration dependence of the decreased rate of inactivation yields a dissociation constant of 1.6 mM for the enzyme-manganous-dibasic isocitrate complex, a value that is 50 times higher than the Km for this substrate. This result suggests that in protecting the enzyme against iodoacetate, isocitrate may bind to a region distinct from the catalytic site. Isocitrate and Mn2+ also prevent thermal denaturation, with an affinity for the enzyme close to that observed for the iodoacetate-sensitive site. The alkylatable cysteine residues may contribute to a manganous-isocitrate binding site which is responsible for stabilizing an active conformation of the enzyme.


Purification and properties of NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase from yeast nuclear fractions. 1. NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.4) extracted from nuclear fractions of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was partially purified. The final purification achieved was over 100-fold over the initial extract. 2. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis shows that the preparation is close to homogeneity and that the enzyme is slightly more anionic than cytoplasmic glutamate dehydrogenase. 3. The response of the nuclear activity to variation of pH, of inorganic phosphate and other electrolyte concentration and of the concentration of the reaction substrates has been investigated. Several differences were detected in comparison with cytoplasmic glutamate dehydrogenase.


Comparative kinetic studies on the L-type pyruvate kinase from rat liver and the enzyme phosphorylated by cyclic 3', 5'-AMP-stimulated protein kinase. The kinetics of rat liver L-type pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40), phosphorylated with cyclic AMP-stimulated protein kinase from the same source, and the unphosphorylated enzyme have been compared. The effects of pH and various concentrations of substrates, Mg2+, K+ and modifiers were studied. In the absence of fructose 1, 6-diphosphate at pH 7.3, the phosphorylated pyruvate kinase appeared to have a lower affinity for phosphoenolpyruvate (K0.5=0.8 mM) than the unphosphorylated enzyme (K0.5=0.3 mM). The enzyme activity vs. phosphoenolpyruvate concentration curve was more sigmoidal for the phosphorylated enzyme with a Hill coefficient of 2.6 compared to 1.6 for the unphosphorylated enzyme. Fructose 1, 6-diphosphate increased the apparent affinity of both enzyme forms for phosphoenolpyruvate. At saturating concentrations of this activator, the kinetics of both enzyme forms were transformed to approximately the same hyperbolic curve, with a Hill coefficient of 1.0 and K0.5 of about 0.04 mM for phosphoenolpyruvate. The apparent affinity of the enzyme for fructose 1, 6-diphosphate was high at 0.2 mM phosphoenolpyruvate with a K0.5=0.06 muM for the unphosphorylated pyruvate kinase and 0.13 muM for the phosphorylated enzyme. However, in the presence of 0.5 mM alanine plus 1.5 mM ATP, a higher fructose 1, 6-diphosphate concentration was needed for activation, with K0.5 of 0.4 muM for the unphosphorylated enzyme and of 1.4 muM for the phosphorylated enzyme. The results obtained strongly indicate that phosphorylation of pyruvate kinase may also inhibit the enzyme in vivo. Such an inhibition should be important during gluconeogenesis.


Denaturation-induced disulfide formation in the enzyme rhodanese. The effect of denaturants on the quantitation of free sulfhydryl groups in the enzyme rhodanese (thiosulfate sulfurtransferase, EC 2.8.1.1) has been reinvestigated in some detail. The sulfhydryl assay with the colorimetric reagent 5, 5'-dithio-bis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) Nbs2 shows four sulfhydryl groups per enzyme molecule (mol. wt. 32 300) when the colorimetric reagent is added to the assay mixture before the denaturant, sodium dodecyl sulfate. On the other hand, only two sulfhydryl groups per molecule are observed when Nbs2 is added after denaturation has been initiated. The time dependence observed in this latter procedure indicates that the loss of the two groups is rapid and permanent. The results depend on the denaturant used: urea acts like sodium dodecyl sulfate while guanidine reveals four sulfhydryl groups independent of reagent order. The assay also gives four sulfhydryl groups independent of reagent order. The assay also gives four sulfhydryl groups independent of reagent order with urea or sodium dodecyl sulfate under conditions which are expected to limit metal ion-catalyzed oxidation of sulfhydryl groups (e.g. oxygen exclusion or metal ion chelation). Recent studies have shown that rhodanese has a molecular weight of 32 600, no disulfides and four sulfhydryl groups per molecule. These results together with the observations reported here are taken to indicate that a disulfide can be formed during denaturation of rhodanese and that the pathway of denaturation determines the result obtained.


Studies on a 3beta-hydroxysteroid sulphotransferase from rat liver. A steroid sulphotransferase (EC 2.8.2.2) was partially purified from female rat liver. The enzyme was active towards the substrates, dehydroepiandrosterone, epiandrosterone and pregnenolone but was inactive towards oestrogens, cholesterol and ergocalciferol. A pH optimum of 5.0 was recorded but the enzyme was unstable at low pH. The enzyme was stimulated slightly by the addition of reducing agents and inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate and HgCl2. Crude enzyme activity was markedly stimulated by divalent cations but this effect was not observed with purified enzyme. A Km of 13 muM was calculated for the donor substrate 3'-phosphoadenylyl sulphate and the acceptor substrate, dehydroepiandrosterone had a Km value of 6 muM. The enzyme appeared to be highly susceptible to product inhibition by adenosine 3', 5'-diphosphate.


An ESR study of the influence of some physico-chemical factors on the conformation of a postsynaptic acetylcholinesterase. 1. In a previous ESR study of a membrane acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) we found, contrary to observations by other authors, spectra indicating that the active serine might be located in a pocket of the enzyme surface. In order to inquire into this possibility, ESR spectra were studied under the influence of different physico-chemical factors known to cause an unfolding of proteins. 2. The active serine of the postsynaptic membrane acetylcholinesterase of Torpedo marmorata electric organ was spin labeled using 1-oxyl-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyletoxyphosphonofluoridate. 3. The effect of the chosen physico-chemical factors was an increase in the rotational freedom of spin labels; this result corroborates the suggestion that the active center of our acetylcholinesterase preparation is located in a pocket.


Presence and androgen control of an alkaline phosphatase in the nucleus of rat ventral prostate. The presence of alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) activity has been demonstrated in nuclei of rat ventral prostate. This enzyme activity remained after washing of isolated nuclei with 0.5% Triton X-100; an acid phosphatase initially present with the nuclear fraction was removed by this treatment. The nuclear alkaline phosphatase, examined by utilizing p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate, had a pH optimum of 9.5-10.3, and a broad substrate specificity: p-nitrophenyl phosphate greater than phosphothreonine greater than beta-glycerophosphate greater than phosphoserine. The nuclear phosphatase was sensitive to denaturation by heat or urea treatments and was also inhibited by Pi, L-phenylalanine, homoarginine, dithiothreitol, and EDTA. The EDTA-inhibited enzyme was maximally reactivated by Zn2+, although Mg2+, or Ca2+ were also effective at somewhat higher concentrations. Orchiectomy of adult rats resulted in an increase in the nuclear alkaline phosphatase activity (2-3-fold at 24 or 48 h postorchiectomy). A decline in the protein: DNA ratio also occurred following orchiectomy, but the increase in phosphatase specific activity was evident whether expressed per unit of protein or per unit of DNA. Testosterone replacement following orchiectomy abolished the increase in nuclear phosphatase activity. The results suggest that the prostatic nuclear alkaline phosphatase may be involved in events related to inactivation of the prostate nucleus following androgen deprivation.


Removal of phosphate groups from casein with potato acid phosphatase. Potato acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) was used to remove the eight phosphate groups from alphas1-casein. Unlike most acid phosphatases, which are active at pH 6.0 or below, potato acid phosphatase can catalyze the dephosphorylation of alphas1-casein at pH 7.0. Although phosphate inhibition is considerable (K1=0.42 mM phosphate), the phosphate ions produced by the dephosphorylation of casein can be removed by dialysis, allowing the reaction to go to completion. The dephosphorylated alphas1-casein is homogeneous on gel electrophoresis with a slower mobility than native alphas1-casein and has an amino acid composition which is identical to native alphas1-casein. Thus the removal of phosphate groups from casein does not alter its primary structure. Potato acid phosphatase also removed the phosphate groups from other phosphoproteins, such as beta-casein, riboflavin binding protein, pepsinogen, ovalbumin, and phosvitin.


Multiple forms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in pig epidermis. Pig epidermal cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (EC 3.1.4.16) have been partially purified by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. At least three different forms of the epidermal phosphodiesterases were identified. They were cyclic GMP-specific, cyclic GMP- and cyclic AMP-hydrolyzing and apparently a cyclic AMP-specific enzyme: the first two forms were soluble and the last was the particulate enzyme. The cyclic GMP-specific soluble fraction had a relatively low Km, the cyclic GMP- and cyclic AMP-hydrolyzing fraction had a high Km for the respective substrates and the third particulate enzyme had both high and low Km values for cyclic AMP. The cyclic GMP-hydrolyzing enzyme was localized almost entirely in the soluble fraction, whereas cyclic AMP-hydrolyzing enzyme was distributed to both soluble and particulate fractions. Thus, our studies show that the multiple forms of pig epidermal enzyme differ distinctly in their substrate affinity, specificity and subcellular distribution.


Ascorbic acid-2-sulfate sulfhohydrolase activity of human arylsulfatase A. Pure human arylsulfatase A (EC 3.1.6.1) was found to hydrolyze ascorbic acid 2-sulfate to ascorbic acid and inorganic sulfate at rates from 200 to 2000 mumol/mg per h depending on the method of assay. This rate was lower than that observed with the synthetic substrate 4-nitrocatechol sulfate, but higher than that seen with the physiological substrate cerebroside sulfate. Extracts of cultured fibroblasts from normal subjects were also shown to hydrolyze ascorbic acid 2-sulfate; extracts of fibroblasts from patients with metachromatic leukodystrophy, known to be deficient in arylsulfatase A, did not. Similarly, hydrolysis of ascorbic acid 2-sulfate was not observed when a partially purified preparation of human arylsulfatase B was tested under a variety of conditions. Thus, in the human, arylsulfatase A appears to be the major, if not the only, ascorbic acid-2-sulfate sulfohydrolase.


Human alpha-fucosidase. Single residual enzymatic form in fucosidosis. Four major forms of alpha-fucosidase (EC 3.2.1.51) activity were separated by isoelectrofocusing from sera of normal control individuals. All forms shifted towards less acidic pI values after neuraminidase treatment. In two patients affected with fucosidosis, only a single major acidic peak was observed and this was affected to a lesser degree by neuraminidase treatment. The kinetics of heat inactivation of the residual activity found in these two patients showed two decay rates while the controls showed only one rate. These data are considered in relation to the hypothesis of the existence of interconvertible thermolabile and thermostable forms of the enzyme which has been discussed in the preceeding paper. The residual alpha-fucosidase found in patients could be structurally altered so that its ability to form the thermostable higher molecular weight aggregates is impaired.


Separation of two PZ-peptidases from bovine dental follicle. Two PZ-peptidases (EC 3.4.-) (A and B) cleaving a synthetic substrate for collagenase, 4-phenylazobenzyloxycarbonyl-L-Pro-L-Leu-Gly-L-Pro-D-Arg (PZ-peptide) have been separated from the particulate fraction of bovine dental follicle. PZ-peptidase A had a molecular weight of 220 000, an optimum pH at 8.0-8.5, and a Km value of 67 muM toward PZ-peptide at pH 7.1, whereas PZ-peptidase B had a molecular weight of 20 000, an optimum pH at 6.5-6.7, and a Km value of 400 muM toward PZ-peptide at pH 7.1. Two similar enzymes were also isolated from the soluble fraction. Since the pH-activity curve of the crude tissue preparations such as homogenate, microsomes and soluble supernatant had two peaks at 6.5-6.7 and 8.0-8.5, both PZ-peptidase A and B may exist in situ as two independent active enzymes.


Properties of the major carboxypeptidase in the larvae of the webbing clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella. The larvae of the webbing clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella contain two carboxypeptidases (EC 3.4.12-) and one of these has been purified by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Its pH optimum for the hydrolysis of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-glycyl-leucine was pH 7.5-7.7 and its molecular weight as judged by gel filtration was 72 000. It is strongly inhibited by disopropylfluorophosphate, thiol reagents and some metal cations and also by 1:10 phenanthroline but not EDTA. Km and V values for the hydrolysis of 13 N-acyl dipeptides were determined. The enzyme has a strong preference for neutral aliphatic amino acid residues and does not hydrolyse C-terminal proline, arginine or lysine. It is a true carboxypeptidase, requiring an L-amino acid in the C-terminal position, with a free carboxyl group and hydrolysing peptide substrates consecutively from the C-terminal end. Dipeptides are cleaved much more slosly than tripeptides or N-acyl dipeptides.


Cathepsins B1 from human fetal membranes. Cathepsins B1 (EC 3.4.22.1) were isolated from fetal membranes of human placenta, i.e. amnion and chorion-decidua. Purification of the enzymes was achieved by the freezing-thawing technique, ammonium sulphate fractionation and Sephadex gel filtration. Cathepsis B1 separated either from amnion or from chorion-decidua exhibited optimum activity at pH 6.2, and an optimum temperature between 42-45 degrees C. They were inhibited by heavy metals, and compounds which react with the thiol groups. Isoelectric focusing demonstrated three isoenzymes of cathepsin B1 originating from chorion-decidua, while only one band was found for the enzyme from amnion.


Purification of multiple forms of adenosine deaminase from rabbit intestine. Two forms of adenosine deaminase (adenosine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.4), differing in molecular size, have been purified and obtained in homogeneous form from rabbit intestine. The purification procedures involved extraction with acetate buffer, pH 5.5, precipitation and fractional reextraction with (NH4)2SO4, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 and Sephadex G-200. Gel filtrations analysis gave molecular weight estimates of 265 000 and 32 000 for the large and small deaminases respectively. The two enzymes forms had similar pH optima and pH stability ranges.


Stimulation of photosystem I-induced oxidation of chloroplast cytochrome b-559 by pre-illumination and by low pH. (1) The proportion of higher plant chloroplast cytochrome b-559 oxidizable during illumination by low intensity 732 nm light increases as the pH is decreased below 6.5. At pH 5.0-5.3 total oxidation is seen and subsequent red light can cause reduction of up to 2/3 of the oxidized cytochrome. The oxidation by far red light at pH 5 is inhibited by 2 muM 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-rho-benzoquinone whereas the red light-induced reduction is inhibited by 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. In this pH range ferricyanide-oxidized cytochrome b-559 exists in a form not reducible by ferrocyanide. (2) An increase in the amplitude of far-red induced oxidation also occurs at higher pH (up to pH 7.8) after pre-treatment of chloroplasts with substantially higher levels of light (approx. 10(6) ergs-cm-2-s-1). The degree of light activation is pH dependent, being more pronounced at lower pH. After light activation, cytochrome b-559 can be completely oxidized by far-red light in a manner reversible by red light up to pH values of 6, and the curve describing the amplitude of far-red oxidation as a function of pH is shifted by 0.5-1.0 pH unit toward higher pH. Far-red oxidation and red light reduction are again inhibited by 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, respectively. (3) Light activation at pH 5.2-6.0 is also manifested in a small decrease in the amplitude of subsequent dark ferrocyanide reduction, and this decrease is inhibited by 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (10 muM). (4) The effect of intramembranal acidity on the effective redox potential of cytochrome b-559 and its function is discussed.


The effect of formate on cytochrome aa3 and on electron transport in the intact respiratory chain. 1. Formate inhibits cytochrome c oxidase activity both in intact mitochondria and submitochondrial particles, and in isolated cytochrome aa3. The inhibition increases with decreasing pH, indicating that HCOOH may be the inhibitory species. 2. Formate induces a blue shift in the absorption spectrum of oxidized cytochrome aa3 (a3 + a33+) and in the half-reduced species (a2 + a33+). Comparison with cyanide-induced spectral shifts, towards the red, indicates that formate and cyanide have opposite effects on the aa3 spectrum, both in the fully oxidized and the half-reduced states. The formate spectra provide a new method of obtaining the difference spectrum of a32+ minus a33+, free of the difficulties with cyanide (which induces marked high leads to low spin spectral shifts in cytochrome a33+) and azide (which induces peak shifts of cytochrome a2+ towards the blue in both alpha- and Soret regions). 3. The rate of formate dissociation from cytochrome a2+ a33+ -HCOOH is faster than its rate of dissociation from a3+ a33+ -HCOOH, especially in the presence of cytochrome c. The Ki for formate inhibition of respiration is a function of the reduction state of the system, varying from 30 mM (100% reduction) to 1 mM (100% oxidation) at pH 7.4, 30 degrees C. 4. Succinate-cytochrome c reductase activity is also inhibited by formate, in a reaction competitive with succinate and dependent on [formate]2. 5. Formate inhibition of ascorbate plus N, N, N', N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine oxidation by intact rat liver mitochondria is partially released by uncoupler addition. Formate is permeable through the inner mitochondrial membrane and no differences in 'on' or 'off' inhibition rates were observed when intact mitochondria were compared with submitochondrial particles. 6. NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity is unaffected by formate in submitochondrial particles, but mitochondrial oxidation of glutamate plus malate is subject both to terminal inhibition at the cytochrome aa3 level and to a slow extra inhibition by formate following uncoupler addition, indicating a third site of formate action in the intact mitochondrion.


The coupling factor of photophosphorylation and the electric properties of the thylakoid membrane. The rate of ATP synthesis of illuminated chloroplasts is correlated with the electric conductance of their inner membranes. In agreement with previous studies it is shown that ATP synthesis is paralleled by an increased conductance of the thylakoid membrane. This conductance together with the ability to form ATP is abolished if chloroplasts are treated with an antibody against the coupling factor CF1. It is not influenced by the fragmented monovalent antibody. This parallels the lack of influence of the fragmented antibody on ATP synthesis in contrast to its influence on hydrolysis and exchange reactions. We conclude that there are different sites for the interaction of the coupling factor with adenine nucleotides. Extraction of the coupling factor is shown to increase the membrane conductance by more than two orders of magnitude. Reincorporation of the crude coupling factor partially restores the net conductance of the membrane (increase in resistance by a factor of 2.5), while a higher degree of restoration was observed for ATP synthesis and the proton conductivity of the membrane. We conclude that the extraction procedure opens different conductive channels in the membrane; a proton specific one, possibly associated with the binding protein for the coupling factor, plus other channels for "non-protons" which in contrast to the proton channel cannot be plugged by reincorporation of the coupling factor.


Evidence against proton gradient formation being the cause of chlorophyll fluorescence quenching by N-methylphenazonium methosulfate. In strong illumination, 3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU)-poisoned chloroplasts exhibit a high yield of chlorophyll fluorescence while P-700 turnover, proton uptake, and phosphorylation are inhibited and a pH gradient is undectectable. When 10muM N-methylphenazonium methosulfate (PMS) is included, the fluorescence yield in light is substantially reduced, and when 100 muM ascorbate is also included, the yield is diminished approximately to the level in darkness. Only very slight increases in P-700 turnover and proton uptake (but no detectable pH gradient) accompany the fluorescence yield decline. When 10muM PMS and 15 mM ascorbate are added to poisoned chloroplasts (the oxygen concentration being greatly reduced), P-700 turnover, proton uptake, the pH gradient and phosphorylation all reach high levels. In this case, the yield of chlorophyll fluorescence is low and is the same in both light and dark. Further addition of an uncoupler eliminates proton uptake, the pH gradient and phosphorylation but does not significantly elevate the fluorescence yield. From these observations we suggest that, in DCMU-poisoned chloroplasts, the fluorescence quenching with PMS occurrs by a mechanism unrelated to the generation of a phosphyorylation potential. With chloroplasts unpoisoned by DCMU, PMS quenches fluorescence and considerably stimulates proton uptake, the pH gradient and phosphorylation. However, in this case, PMS serves to restore net electron transport.


The accumulation of superoxide radical during the aerobic action of xanthine oxidase. A requiem for H2O4. The action of xanthine oxidase upon acetaldehyde or xanthine at pH 10.2 has been shown to be accompanied by substantial accumulation of O2- during the first few minutes of the reaction. H2O2 decreases this accumulation of O2- presumably because of the Haber-Weiss reaction (H2O2+O2- leads to OH- +OH+O2) and very small amounts of superoxide dismutase eliminate it. This accumulation of O2- was demonstrated in terms of a burst of reduction of cytochrome c, seen when the latter compound was added after aerobic preincubation of xanthine oxidase with its substrate. The kinetic peculiarities of the luminescence seen in the presence of luminol, which previously led to the proposal of H2O4-, can now be satisfactorily explained entirely on the basis of known radical intermediates.


The 520 nm absorbance changes in Scenedesmus obliquus and its relation to photosystem I. The kinetics (region of seconds) of the light-induced 520 nm absorbance changes and its dark reversal have been studied in detail in the wild type and in some pigment and photosynthetic mutants of Scenedesmus obliquus. The following 5 lines of evidence led us to conclude that the signal is entirely due to the photosystem I reaction modified by electron flow from Photosystem II. Gradual blocking of the electron transport with 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea resulted in diminution and ultimate elimination of the biphasic nature of the signal without reducing the extent of the absorbance change or of the dark kinetics. On the contrary, blocking electron flow at the oxidizing side of plastoquinone with 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isoprophyl-p-benzoquinone or inactivating the plastocyanin with KCN, prolonged the dark reversal of the absorbance change apart from abolishing the biphasic nature of the signal. Action spectra clearly indicate that the main signal (I) is due to electron flow in Photosystem I and that its modification (Signal II) is due to the action of Photosystem II. Signal I is pH independent, whereas Signal II demonstrates a strong pH dependence, parallel to the O2-evolving capacity of the cells. Chloroplast particles isolated from the wild type Scenedesmus cells demonstrated in the absence of any added artificial electron donor or acceptor and also under non-phosphorylation conditions the 520 nm absorbance change with approximately the same magnitude as whole cells. The dark kinetics of the particles were comparatively slower. Removal of plastocyanin and other electron carriers by washing with Triton X-100 slowed down the kinetics of the dark reversal reaction to a greater extent. A similar positive absorbance change at 520 nm and slow dark reversal  was also observed in the Photosystem I particles prepared by the Triton method. Mutant C-6E, which contains neither carotenoids nor chlorophyll b and lacks Photosystem II activity, demonstrates a normal signal I of the 520 nm absorbance change. This latter result contradicts the postulate that carotenoids are the possible cause of the 520 nm absorbance change.


Pyruvate flux into resealed ghosts from human erythrocytes. The kinetics of pyruvate transport across the isolated red blood cell membrane were studied by a simple and precise spectrophotometric method: following the oxidation of NADH via lactate dehydrogenase trapped within resealed ghosts. The initial rate of pyruvate entry was linear. Influx was limited by saturation at high pyruvate concentration. Pyruvate influx was greatly stimulated by increasing ionic strength in the outer but not the inner aqueous compartment. The Km ranged from 15.0 mM at mu = 0.05 to 3.7 mM at mu = 0.01, while the V went from 0.611 - 10(15) to 0.137 - 10(-15) mol - min-1 - ghost-1. Ionic strength was shown to affect the translocation step and not pyruvate binding. The energy of activation of pyruvate flux into resealed ghosts was 25 kcal/mol, similar to that found in intact red blood cells. Inhibitors of pyruvate influx included such anions as thiocyanate, chloride, bicarbonate, alpha-cyanocinnamate, salicylate and ketomalonate (but not acetate); noncompetitive inhibitors were phloretin, 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanate-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid and o-phenanthroline/CuSO4 mixtures. The last reagent, known to induce disulfide links in certain membrane proteins, blocked the ionic strength stimulation of pyruvate influx in this study.


Heme models. I. Solution behavior of a water soluble iron porphyrin. A well-behaved water soluble iron-porphyrin system, meso-tetra-(4-carboxyphenyl) porphinato iron (III) was synthesized. Its solution behavior is described using visable and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The complex exists in solution as three distinct forms of bridged dimers, oxo, hydroxo and aquo, with the following pK's: oxo + H+ in equilibrium hydroxo, pK = 9.58; hydroxo + H+ in equilibrium aquo, pK = 6.72. In the presence of excess imidazole the second pK is found to be 7.05. Detailed analysis of the interaction of the hydroxo-bridged form with imidazole is presented. It is found that one dimer unit simultaneously binds two imidazole molecules, with an over-all equilibrium constant log Keq = -1.22. EPR spectra are presented for the various forms of iron-porphyrin discussed.


17 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of the sheep ovary : purification, properties and substrate binding site. Sheep ovarian 17 beta HSDH has been purified about 1000 fold to a specific activity of 0.5 IU/mg protein, using DEAE cellulose chromatography, affinity chromatography on estrone-amino caproate-Sepharose and a second DEAE cellulose chromatography. The molecular weight is 70,000 ; the pH optimum for activity is 9.2 and the energy of activation is 16.5 Kcal/mole. The kinetics of the oxidation of estradiol and many analogues have been studied at various concentrations and in the presence of different amounts of coenzyme. The data are in agreement with a compulsory order mechanism with the binding of NAD+ as the first substrate. Sheep ovarian 17 beta HSDH accepts subtituents in position C3, C11, C13 ; the substrate binding site is open in this region. On the contrary, the binding requirements are strict for the region of C10 since the presence of a C19 methyl group impairs binding and (or) oxidation of the steroid. Sheep ovarian and human placental 17 beta HSDH have close analogies : molecular weight, pH optimum, substrate binding site requirements. Their reaction mechanisms are different : random for the placental 17 beta HSDH, compulsory order for the ovarian 17 beta HSDH : this can be explained by the effect of the coenzyme upon the binding of the substrate : without effect on placental enzyme, the coenzyme fixation enhances the affinity of the ovarian 17 beta HSDH for any substrate.


Complete purification and studies on the structural and kinetic properties of two forms of yeast valyl-tRNA synthetase. Two forms of baker's yease valyl-tRNA synthetase have been purified to apparent homogeneity by classical methods. It was demonstrated that one of the two forms of the enzyme originates from the other by proteolysis, the respective amounts of each form depending on the physiological state of the yeast. The species mainly isolated from exponential growing yeast cells is a monomer of 130,000 daltons molecular weight. In stationary phase cells or in commercial yeast the major species is a degraded monomer of 120,000 daltons molecular weight ; however when the purification is carried out in the presence of phenylmethyl-sulphonyl fluoride, or diisopropylfluorophosphate large amounts of the not - degreded monomer can be obtained. Of great practical usefulness is the fact that large amounts of the native enzyme can be obtained pure after only two chromatographic steps on DEAE-cellulose and hydroxylapatite. The kinetic constants for valine, ATP and tRNAVal were determined, as well as the optimum aminoacylation conditions. It was found that the specific activity of the nondegraded valyl-tRNA synthetase is higher than that of the proteolysed enzyme for the aminoacylation reaction. On the contrary, both forms have the same ATP-pyroposphate exchange activity. The amino acids composition of the native enzyme was established. The tryptic fingerprints of the two valyl-tRNA synthetases were studied. Essentially similar maps were obtained. The number of the spots in the fingerprints indicates that the enzymes contain a high proportion of repeated sequences.


[Rat liver plasma membrane phospholipase A]. The plasma membranes phospholipase A2 studied in situ shows very little sensitivity for pH variations ; the optimal concentration for Ca++ is 5 mM ; the enzymatic kinetics are of the Michaelis type. An inactive state of the phospholipase A2 exists : when rats are injected with heparin, their plasma membranes contain a very low phospholipase A2 activity. These membranes recover a high A2 activity if they are incubated in the presence of a rat platelets lysate. Treatment of membranes by NaCl 1 M displaces phospholipase A1 and phospholipase A2 but for the latter only when being in active state. Treatment of animals, conditions of preparation and of incubation of membranes influence the respective amounts of phospholipases A1 and A2 present in these membranes and are discussed in this paper. The localisation of these enzymatic proteins inside the membrane according to the membranous model proposed by Singer et al. [18] is also discussed.


Phosphate uptake in Chlorella pyrenoidosa : II. Effect of pH and of SH reagents. The sensitivity of the phosphate transport system to pCMPS after phosphate starvation is dependent on protein synthesis. This fact is related to the development of transport activity at alkaline pH. In non-starved cells, the presence of only one peak of maximal activity for phosphate uptake at neutral pH (at low and high concentration) has been observed. However, in phosphate starved cells, two peaks of maximal activity (at low phosphate concentration) at neutral and alkaline pH are present. In starved cells, pCMPS inhibits more intensely the phosphate transport activity at alkaline pH than at neutral pH. By contrast, NEM inhibits the phosphate transport more strongly at neutral than at alkaline pH. Phosphate uptake at neutral and alkaline pH are sensitive to osmotic shock, but phosphate uptake at alkaline pH is decreased more than at neutral pH. The results could be interpreted either by assuming that the membrane surroundings change during phosphate starvation or that two transport systems are present in starved cells whereas only one transport system exists in non-starved cells.


Possible occurrence for histidyl and cysteyl residues in the catalytic center of rat liver mitochondrial D (-)-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase. 1. Rat liver mitochondrial D(-)-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (submitochondrial particles and partially purified preparation) is inhibited by some dicarboxylates, especially by malonate and succinate. The inhibition is reversible and competitive with beta-hydroxybutyrate while uncompetitive with acetoacetate, NAD and NADH: the inhibition is maximal at pH 6 and decrease with increasing pH. 2. Diethylpyrocarbonate (which reacts preferentially with histidyl residues at pH 6.6) inactivates the dehydrogenase at pH 6.1, beta-hydroxybutyrate protects against inactivation, this inactivation being almost completely released by hydroxylamine. The diethylpyrocarbonate-treated enzyme shows an absorbance increase at 242 nm which is characterisitic of reaction between diethylpyrocarbonate and histidyl residue. 3. The optimum pH of the enzyme for beta-hydroxybutyrate oxidation is around 8.2, while for acetoacetate reduction, the optimum pH is around 7. 4. All these results favour the existence of a histidyl residue in the catalytic center and taking into account previous results concerning the effect of thiol reagents on the same enzyme and especially, the protective effect of NAD+ and NADH against these reagents [11] we discuss the possible occurrence of, at least, one histidyl and one cysteyl residue on the catalytic center.


[Mechanism of glutaraldehyde-protein bond formation]. Commercial aqueous 25% glutaraldehyde solutions contain no stable derivative of this aldehyde, but compounds of variable molecular weight which easily revert to glutaraldehyde. The effect of pH on the reaction of glutarldehyde with amino acids and on the stability of the products under acid conditions, shows the importance of the structure modification of the dialdehyde which occurs when pH increases, and even leads to precipitation in highly alkaline solutions. This precipitate results from aldol condensation of glutaraldehyde molecules. It contains aldehyd groups conjugated with ethylenic double bonds. Such a structure reacts with amino groups to give an imino bond, stabilized by resonance with the ethylenic bond, and does not undergo Michael-type addition reactions. Therefore, glutaraldehyde does not react with proteins under its free form, but as an unsaturated polymer, which gives imino bonds stabilized by conjugation.


Purification and properties of cyclic AMP dependent and independent protein kinases from rat pancreas. Three protein kinases Ko, K1, and KII have been extracted from rat pancreas homogenate, Ko is not stimulated by cyclic AMP. K1 is poorly stimulated by cyclic AMP (1.3 times), Ku is highly stimulated (6 times). The specificity of KII with respect to various nucleotides and cyclic nucleotides has been determined. K1 and KII account for the total cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase activity in the homogenate.


[Decanoic acid, new precursor for in vitro biosynthesis of oleic acid by a plant subcellular fraction]. Various membraneous fractions prepared from a cauliflower homogenate synthesize radioactive oleic acid when they are incubated in a 14C-decanolate solution. The more active fraction is formed of vesicles sedimenting at 30,000 g x 20 mn (heavy microsomes). The labelled precursor is transformed by this fraction mainly into oleic acid and hydroxyacids. ATP, NADPH, CoA and oxygen are required for these reactions. Labelled fatty acids, longer than lauric and (i.e. 14C-myristic, 14C-palmitic and 14C-stearic acids) are not transformed into oleic acid by the subcellular fraction studied in this paper.


[Acetylcholinesterase. II. Experimental aspects of interaction with reversible effectors under conditions of high ionic strength]. Interaction of usual effectors with acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) from bovine erythrocytes was examined under conditions of high ionic strength (gamma/2 greater than or equal to 0,1). Detailed kinetic investigation of the hydrolysis of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase in the presence of modifiers shows that the effects produced by numerous quaternary nitrogen compounds on the enzyme can be explained on the basis of binding of the effectors to the anionic subsite of the active center. The various kinetic behaviors, that are observed, are dependent on the relative values of the deacetylation rate constant ak of the complex acetylated enzyme-modifier and of the rate constant k-2 defined by : (see article) with respect to the value of the deacetylation rate constant K of the acetylated enzyme. If a identical to [1--(k/k-2)]-1, it is shown that interaction of the enzyme with tetraethylammonium, pentamethonium, hexamethonium and gallamine ions is characterized by : a greater than a and k-2 greater than k therefore, these modifiers accelerate deacetylation. On the other hand, inhibition of acetylcholinestase by methylpyridinium, d-tubocurarine, tetra-n-propylammonium, tetra-n-butylammonium, decamethonium and succinylbischoline is consistent with one of the conditions : a less than a and k-2 greater than or equal to k or a greater than a and k-2 less than k and inhibition by tetramethylammonium, phenyltrimethylammonium, 3-hydroxyphenyl-triethylammonium, N-methylacridinium and bis (3-aminopyridinium)-1,10-decane ions agrees with one of the two previous conditions or with : (see article) consequently, the effect of these ligands on the deacetylation step is undetermined. However, the effects of choline chloride, thiazinamium methyl sulfate and thioridazine hydrochloride are not entirely consistent with this mechanism but support the existence of a functional peripheral anionic site which is distinct from the anionic subsite of the active center.


[Interactions of phosphorylethanolamine analogs with phosphorylethanolamine-citidylyltransferase]. Kinetic studies of ethanolaminephosphate-cytidylyltransferase (E.C. 2.7.7.14) from rat liver have been carried out in presence of structural analogues of ethanolaminephosphate : these compounds acted as inhibitors of the enzyme: - 2-aminoethylphosphonate behaved as a substrate and a competitive inhibitor to phosphorylethanolamine: the Km value of 2-aminoethylphosphonate was nearly the same as its Ki value, at pH = 5,5 (30 X 10(-3) M and 24 x 10(-3) M, respectively). - 3-aminopropylphosphonate was also a competitive inhibitor. It appeared to be the best inhibitor at pH optimum (pH = 7,7). - 1-aminoethylphosphonate behaved as a noncompetitive inhibitor. However, cytidylyltransferase was relatively specific, inhibitions being always weak. Inhibitory power of phosphonates was stimulated by Mg++.


[Purification and properties of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (4.1.1.28) of rat brain]. L-aromatic aminoacid decarboxylase has been purified more than thousand times from homogenates of rat brain, in several steps : centrifugation, DEAE-cellulose, CM cellulose, hydroxylapatite, DEAE sephadex. Its properties have been studied, most of them on an intermediate fraction of the purification, because of the instability of the purified enzyme in spite of the addition of different stabilizing agents : the enzyme decarboxylates 5-hydroxytryptophan (5 HTP) and DOPA in a ratio constant throughout the purification but does not decarboxylate tryptophan, tyrosine, histidine at a measurable rate. Optimum pH, Km, Vm, have been measured with 5 HTP and DOPA as substrates. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 115.000, an apparent isoelectric point of 6,4-6,5. It is inhibited by serotonin, dopamine, some cations : Cu++, Fe++, Ni++ by N-ethylmaleimide, sodium dodecylsulfate. Some pyridoxal-5 phosphate (PLP) remains strongly bound to the enzyme. For relatively weak concentrations of substrate, the enzyme is inhibited by an excess of PLP ; for weak concentrations of PLP, the enzyme in inhibited by an excess of substrate, particularly of DOPA. We also observe a spontaneous decarboxylation of the substrates that reaches a plateau and is enhanced by high concentrations of PLP, by serotonin, dopamine, Cu++ and reduced by mercaptoethanol and the presence of crude or boiled homogenates. Several possible explanations of the spontaneous decarboxylation and of the enzymic inhibitions by an excess of PLP and by the substrates are given.


[Characterization of some hydrolase activities in digestive juice of Achatina balteata]. The digestive juice of Achatina balteata, a giant snail of the West African Coast catalyses the hydrolysis of several natural and synthetic compounds. Enzymatic activities on lactose, o- and p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside, p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucoside, p-nitrophenyl-beta-D (and alpha-L-) fucoside, o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xyloside, p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide and phenolphthalein-glucuronide have been shown to be present. The effect of pH and substrate concentration on these activities were studied. The galactosidase, glucosidase and fucosidase activities were studied with respect to temperature, heat inactivation, pH stability and incubation with trypsin. Kinetic experiments suggest the presence of several galactosidase activities. This hypothesis is confirmed by specific staining after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These activities showed a broad specificity towards galactosides and glucosides. The digestive juice showed no action on acetyl-L-tyrosine and benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl esters. However a small protease activity was observed on hemoglobine. No lipase activity was found. Sulfatase content was low compared to that of Helix pomatia.


Characterization of the mannosyl and fucosyl transferases in the ovine anterior pituitary glands. Ovine anterior pituitary glands contain mannosyl- and fucosyl-transferases localized in the microsomes and able to incorporate mannose or fucose as such from GDP-mannose or GDP-fucose into endogenous glycoproteins. The requirements and conditions necessary for maximum activity were investigated. The value of the Km is very similar for the two enzyme systems, 3 X 10(-7) M in the case of mannosyl-transferases and 5 X 10(-7) M in the case of fucosyl-transferases.


Adjuvant and immunostimulating activities of water-soluble substances extracted from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (var. hominis). Water-soluble substances have been extracted from two strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. hominis: the native hydrosoluble part (polysaccharide and peptidoglycan), a substance in which the polysaccharide moiety is less abundant than in the latter, the acetylated peptidoglycan and, finally a tetrasaccharide-heptapeptide. All four types of substances, when they were injected together with Freund's incomplete adjuvant, exerted an adjuvant effect on the production of delayed-type hypersensitivity to ovalbumin in the guinea pig and on the production of anti-influenza virus antibodies in the rabbit. Injected intravenously in the mouse, they increased the number of antibody-producing cells in the spleen and enhanced the graft versus host reaction; no effect was seen on the phagocytic activity of the reticulo-endothelial system. By contrast with wax D, the water-soluble substances were devoid of arthritis-inducing activity in the rat. Altogether, these water-soluble substances seem to be endowed with at least some of the adjuvant activities of Freund's complete adjuvant and some of the immunostimulant activities of a live Mycobacterium like BCG.


Arylsulfatases isoenzymes in metachromatic leucodystrophy/detection of a new variant by electrophoresis improvement of quantitative assay. Arylsulfatase A and B activities were assayed in leucocytes of 43 controls, 11 cases of Metachromatic Leucodystrophy and 7 parents or siblings of patients, using a new technique implying specific inhibitors for leucocyte enzymes. Heterozygotes can be determined, with a 50% value compared to the control, in variant B. Electrophoresis of leucocytes after enzymatic staining for arylsulfatase, is a complementary technique which allowed the detection of a new form of metachromatic leucodystrophy.


Intrahepatic lymphoid tissue graft: course of the Gvh reaction induced by Peyer's patches. To investigate the thymus-dependent immune competence of Peyer's patches, the course of splenomegaly and hepatic perivascular infiltration (PVI) was studied as criteria of graft-versus-host reaction (GvhR). Parental or F1 hybrid lymphoid tissues, were intrahepatically implanted and the ability of Peyer's patches to induce a GvhR was compared to that of spleen, lymph nodes and thymus. A slight but significant delayed increase of spleen index was observed at the 40th post operative day following Peyer's patches implantation whereas the thymus did not induce any modification of this parameter. On the other hand, the PVI was a very early and precise criterion in monitoring the Gvh reaction induced by Peyer's patches, and allowed to postulate that at least one T-cell function is present within the Peyer's patches.


Marine sterols. III--The sterol compositions of oceanic jellyfish. The use of gas chromatographic mass spectrometric techniques to identify unresolved components. The sterol compositions of three oceanic jellyfish have been determined using gas chromatographic mass spectrometric techniques involving the use of two separate gas chromatographic column systems. The components in overlapping peaks have been identified by comparison of the mass spectra of peaks in the two column systems using subtractive techniques. A mid-water animal, Periphylla periphylla, was found to contain a very complex and unusual sterol profile including rare 5alpha-stanols, whereas two other oceanic jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca and Atolla wyvillei contained similar mixtures of delta5 sterols to those previously isolated from coastal species.


The gas chromatographic mass spectrometric determination of trifluoroacetic acid in biological fluid. Application to halothane metabolism. The methyl ester of trifluoroacetic acid was prepared by reaction with N,N'-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal and was successfully passed through a gas chromatograph. Trifluoroacetic acid was detected by the use of gas chromatography and low and high resolution gas chromatography mass spectrometry in an acidic extract of an incubation medium containing microsomes, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, oxygen and halothane. However, trifluoroacetic acid could not be detected when nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or oxygen was omitted from the incubation system. From these results, it was proved that halothane is oxidatively metabolized to trifluoroacetic acid by hepatic microsomes.


[Reciprocal influence of the graft vs. host reaction and pregnancy]. The graft versus host reaction (GVHR) was induced in mouse females-hybrids F1 (CBA X C57BL/6) by intravenous injection of suspension of the lymphoid cells of the spleen and of lymphoid nodes from C57BL/6 mouse females. Pregnancy resulted from interbreeding of the test females with syngenic males 1--5 days before, and 1--10, 10--20, 30--40 and more than 40 days after the moment of the lymphoid cells injection, aggravated the GVHR induced transplantation disease. At the same time the GVHR under these conditions decreased the percentage of pregnant animals and brought to child-bearing disfunction of the test animals (stillbirth, death of pregnant females, miscarriage). In some of the test mice aggravation of the GVHR was observed after delivery. Survival of the progeny decreased.


Studies on gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in human and rabbit erythrocytes. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase transfers the gamma-glutamyl moiety of glutathione to a variety of acceptor amino acids. Through the operation of the gamma-glutamyl-cyclotransferase cycle, this enzyme has been implicated in the transport of amino acids into cells, especially the cells of the proximal tubules of kidney. It has been reported to be present in rabbit erythrocytes. However, using white cell-free preparations, we have not been able to demonstrate the presence of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in human or rabbit erythrocytes either by measuring the utilization of GSH or by following the formation of the product. 14C-L-methionine was used as acceptor amino acid, and the formation of gamma-glutamyl-14C-L-methionine was followed. Using similar conditions, we have been able to demonstrate the presence of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in human and rabbit leukocytes and in human kidney. In contrast to a previous report, we were unable to find the accumulation of 5-oxoproline, an intermediate of the gamma-glutamyl-cyclotransferase pathway in human red cells incubated in Krebs-Ringer solution. Immunologic studies demonstrated that human red cell membranes contained no protein antigenically similar to kidney gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Thus our studies indicated that in human and rabbit erythrocytes, the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-cyclotransferase pathway was not operative.


The pH dependence of quantitative ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation: theoretical and practical implications-a new device for maintenance of platelet-rich plasma pH. Quantitative ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation of normal platelet-rich plasma (PRP) decreased with time after PRP preparation. An increase in p H of the PRP with time proved to be responsible for this finding. Diffusion of CO2from the plasma is the prime determinant of the change in pH. Since a complex combination of factors influences CO2 diffusion (surface area-to-volume relationship, capping, mixing, etc.) The change in pH is variable with time. Thus, quantitative ristocetin aggregation should be pH controlled. A simple device for maintaining PRP pH constant by control of the ambient pCO2 was designed and found effective in keeping both pH and quantitative ristocetin aggregation constant over a prolonged period of time. It can be adapted for use in platelet aggregation studies employing other reagents. The pH dependence of ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation is consistent with other data supporting an elctrostatic interaction between the platelet, von Willebrand factor, and ristocetin. We favor a model wherein ristocetin neutralizes some of the platelet's negative change and permits the von Willebrand factor to bridge sites on separate platelets to induce agglutination.


[Case of congenital megaurethra associated with bilateral renal hyperplasia]. Authors report a very rare malformation of the external genital organs in a male new-born who died 48 hours after birth. This malformation consisted in a total aplasia of the corpus cavernosum and bulbus penis with a fusiforme dilatation of the anterior urethra. The malformation was associated with an anal imperforation, bilateral cryptorchidism and renal hypoplasia.