In vitro phosphorylation study of the arc two-component signal transduction system of Escherichia coli

The ArcB and ArcA proteins constitute a two-component signal transduction system that plays a broad role in transcriptional regulation. Under anoxic or environmentally reducing conditions, the sensor kinase (ArcB) is stimulated to autophosphorylate at the expense of ATP and subsequently transphosphorylates the response regulator (ArcA). ArcB is a complex, membrane-bound protein comprising at least three cytoplasmic domains, an N-terminal transmitter domain with a conserved His292 residue (H1), a central receiver domain with a conserved Asp576 residue (D1), and a C-terminal alternative transmitter domain with a conserved His717 residue (H2). To study the phosphoryl transfer pathways of the Arc system, we prepared the following His-tagged proteins: H1, D1, H2, H1-D1, D1-H2, H1-D1-H2, and ArcA. Incubations of various combinations of Arc proteins with [gamma-32P]ATP indicated that H1, but not D1 or H2, catalyzes autophosphorylation; that H1-P transfers the phosphoryl group to D1 much more rapidly than to ArcA; and that D1 accelerates the transphosphorylation of H2. Finally, ArcA is phosphorylated much more rapidly by H2-P than by H1-P. Available data are consistent with a signal transduction model in which (i) reception of a membrane signal(s) triggers autophosphorylation of H1 at His292, (ii) the phosphoryl group can migrate to D1 at Asp576 and subsequently to H2 at His717, and (iii) ArcA receives the phosphoryl group from either His292 or His717, the relative contribution of which is regulated by cytosolic effectors.

Evidence that the integrin beta3 and beta5 subunits contain a metal ion-dependent adhesion site-like motif but lack an I domain

The amino-terminal domain of each integrin beta subunit is hypothesized to contain an ion binding site that is key to cell adhesion. A new hypothesis regarding the structure of this site is suggested by the crystallization of the I domains of the integrin alphaL and alphaM subunits (Lee, J.-O., Rieu, P., Arnaout, M. A., and Liddington, R. (1995) Cell 80, 631-638; Qu, A., and Leahy, D. J. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 92, 10277-10281). In those proteins, an essential metal ion is bound by a metal ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS). The MIDAS is presented at the apex of a larger protein module called an I domain. The metal ligands in the MIDAS can be separated into three distantly spaced clusters of oxygenated residues. These three coordination sites also appear to exist in the integrin beta3 and beta5 subunits. Here, we examined the putative metal binding site within beta3 and beta5 using site-directed mutagenesis and ligand binding studies. We also investigated the fold of the domain containing the putative metal binding site using the PHD structural algorithm. The results of the study point to the similarity between the integrin beta subunits and the MIDAS motif at two of three key coordination points. Importantly though, the study failed to identify a residue in either beta subunit that corresponds to the second metal coordination group in the MIDAS. Moreover, structural algorithms indicate that the fold of the beta subunits is considerably different than the I domains. Thus, the integrin beta subunits appear to present a MIDAS-like motif in the context of a protein module that is structurally distinct from known I domains.

Regulation of Escherichia coli cell envelope proteins involved in protein folding and degradation by the Cpx two-component system

We show that the two-component signal transduction system of Escherichia coli, CpxA-CpxR, controls the expression of genes encoding cell envelope proteins involved in protein folding and degradation. These findings are based on three lines of evidence. First, activation of the Cpx pathway induces 5- to 10-fold the synthesis of DsbA, required for disulfide bond formation, and DegP, a major periplasmic protease. Second, using electrophoretic mobility shift and DNase I protection assays, we have shown that phosphorylated CpxR binds to elements upstream of the transcription start sites of dsbA, degP, and ppiA (rotA), the latter coding for a peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase. Third, we have demonstrated increased in vivo transcription of all three genes, dsbA, degP, and ppiA, when the Cpx pathway is activated. We have identified a putative CpxR consensus binding site that is found upstream of a number of other E. coli genes. These findings suggest a potentially extensive Cpx regulon including genes transcribed by sigma70 and sigma(E), which encode factors involved in protein folding as well as other cellular functions.

Migration behavior and separation of sulfonamides in capillary zone electrophoresis. I. Influence of buffer pH and electrolyte modifier

The influence of buffer pH and electrolyte modifier on the migration behavior and separation of thirteen sulfonamides was investigated by capillary zone electrophoresis. The results indicate that precise optimization of buffer pH is crucial in improving the separation of some closely migrating sulfonamides. On the addition of either an appropriate amount of an organic modifier (methanol or acetonitrile) or a low concentration of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD, 0.5 mM) to a phosphate-borate buffer at pH 6.85 and an applied voltage of 20 kV, the resolution of peaks between sulfathiazole and sulfamethoxypyridarine is markedly enhanced and effective separations of thirteen sulfonamides are achieved within a relatively short time. Methanol gives better resolution than acetonitrile as an organic modifier. Weak inclusion complexation occurs between beta-CD and sulfonamides, with the exception of sulfathiazole. The formation constants of thirteen sulfonamides with beta-CD are reported.

Transcriptional control mediated by the ArcA two-component response regulator protein of Escherichia coli: characterization of DNA binding at target promoters

ArcA protein bearing an amino-terminal, oligohistidine extension has been purified, and its DNA binding activity has been characterized with or without prior incubation with carbamoyl phosphate. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I protection assays indicate that where the phosphorylated form of the ArcA protein (ArcA-P) is expected to act as a transcriptional repressor (e.g., of lctPRD and gltA-sdhCDAB), the effect is likely to be mediated by sequestration of cis-controlling transcriptional regulatory elements. In contrast, in the case of cydAB, for which ArcA-P is expected to function as a transcriptional activator, two discrete binding sites have been identified upstream of a known promoter, and activation from these sites is likely to be mediated by a mechanism typical of the type I class of prokaryotic transcriptional activators. An additional ArcA-P binding site has also been located downstream of the known promoter, and a distinct role for this site in the regulation of the cydAB operon during anoxic growth transitions is suggested. These results are discussed within the framework of an overall model of signaling by the Arc two-component signal transduction system in response to changes in aerobiosis.

Translation of the adhE transcript to produce ethanol dehydrogenase requires RNase III cleavage in Escherichia coli

Previous studies have shown that the adhE gene, which encodes a multifunctional protein with ethanol dehydrogenase activity, is under transcriptional regulation. The level of dehydrogenase activity in cells grown fermentatively is about 10-fold higher than that in cells grown aerobically. In these studies, we mapped the promoter to a region well upstream of the protein-coding region of adhE. Unexpectedly, in mutants lacking the endoribonuclease RNase III, no significant ethanol dehydrogenase activity was detected in cells grown anaerobically on rich (Luria-Bertani) medium supplemented with glucose, even though adhE mRNA levels were high. Indeed, like Delta adhE mutants, strains lacking RNase III failed to grow fermentatively on glucose but grew on the more oxidized carbon source glucuronate. Computer-generated secondary structures of the putative 5' untranslated region of adhE mRNA suggest that the ribosome binding site is occluded by intramolecular base pairing. It seems likely that cleavage of this secondary structure by RNase III is necessary for efficient translation initiation.

A biochemical characterization of the binding of osteopontin to integrins alpha v beta 1 and alpha v beta 5

Osteopontin (OPN) is an extracellular matrix protein that binds to integrin alpha v beta 3. Here we demonstrate that two other integrins, alpha v beta 1 and alpha v beta 5, are also receptors for OPN. Human embryonic kidney 293 cells adhere to human recombinant osteopontin (glutathione S-transferase-osteopontin; GST-OPN) using integrin alpha v beta 1. When the 293 cells are transfected with the beta 5 subunit, they can also adhere to GST-OPN using integrin alpha v beta 5. Divalent cations regulate the binding of GST-OPN to both alpha v beta 1 and alpha v beta 5. Mg2+ and Mn2+ support the binding of GST-OPN to these integrins but Ca2+ does not. The highest affinity is observed in Mn2+. In the presence of this ion, the affinity of GST-OPN for alpha v beta 1 is 18 nM and the affinity for alpha v beta 5 is 48 nM. The antibody 8A2, which is an agonist for beta 1, promotes the adhesion of 293 cells to GST-OPN even when Ca2+ is present. This observation suggests that cellular events could modulate the affinity of alpha v beta 1 for OPN. Collectively, these findings prove that integrins alpha v beta 1, alpha v beta 3, and alpha v beta 5 have similar affinity for OPN. Therefore, all three integrins must be considered when evaluating the biological affects of OPN.

High density lipoprotein metabolism is altered by dietary cholesterol but not fat saturation in guinea pigs

To study dietary fat and cholesterol effects on plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism and rates of apolipoprotein (apo) A-I catabolism, guinea pigs were fed 15% (wt/wt) lard- or corn oil-based diets with 0.01% (basal), 0.08%, 0.17% or 0.33% cholesterol. Absorbed dietary cholesterol provided 6%, 50%, 100% and 200%, respectively, of the daily endogenous cholesterol synthetic mass. While total plasma cholesterol concentrations increased significantly above basal levels at the 0.17% and 0.33% cholesterol intakes, plasma apo E-free HDL (EoHDL) cholesterol concentrations did not increase significantly until the 0.33% cholesterol level (P < 0.001). Fractional catabolic rates (FCR) of injected [131I]-apo A-I were not altered by dietary treatment, either fat saturation or cholesterol, but were inversely correlated with plasma EoHDL cholesterol levels (r = -0.622), suggestive of a regulatory role of turnover rates on HDL cholesterol levels independent of dietary treatment. Analysis of the high affinity EoHDL binding to isolated hepatic membranes suggested that hepatic binding was not a determinant of HDL catabolism, as dietary cholesterol-induced decreases in Bmax (binding capacity) were not correlated with changes in apo A-I FCR. Even though dietary cholesterol was associated with increased plasma EoHDL cholesterol and with decreased HDL binding protein Bmax, these values did not correlate with each other nor with effects on apo A-I FCR.

Prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) pectin alters hepatic cholesterol metabolism without affecting cholesterol absorption in guinea pigs fed a hypercholesterolemic diet

Prickly pear pectin intake decreases plasma LDL concentrations by increasing hepatic apolipoprotein B/E receptor expression in guinea pigs fed a hypercholesterolemic diet. To investigate whether prickly pear pectin has an effect on cholesterol absorption and on enzymes responsible for hepatic cholesterol homeostasis, guinea pigs were fed one of three semipurified diets, each containing 15 g lard/100 g diet: 1) the lard-basal diet with no added cholesterol or prickly pear pectin (LB diet); 2) the LB diet with 0.25 g added cholesterol/100 g diet (LC diet); or 3) the LC diet containing 2.5 g prickly pear pectin/100 g diet, added at the expense of cellulose (LC-P diet). Animals fed the LB diet had the lowest plasma LDL and hepatic cholesterol concentrations, followed by animals fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.001). Hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity was highest in the group fed the LB diet, with similar values for animals in the other two groups. A positive correlation existed between plasma LDL cholesterol concentration and hepatic acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity (r = 0.87, P < 0.001). Cholesterol absorption was not different among the three dietary groups. These results indicate that the decreased plasma and hepatic cholesterol concentrations of animals fed prickly pear pectin are not explained by differences in cholesterol absorption but rather are due to mechanisms that alter hepatic cholesterol homeostasis, resulting in lower plasma LDL concentrations.

Regulation of hepatic LDL metabolism in the guinea pig by dietary fat and cholesterol

Studies were carried out to determine the independent and interactive effects of dietary fat and cholesterol on the regulation of hepatic apoB/E receptor expression and its relationship to hepatic cholesterol concentrations and low density lipoprotein (LDL) particle characteristics. Guinea pigs were fed 15% (w/w) fat diets (lard, olive oil, or corn oil) with cholesterol levels corresponding to absorbed intakes of 6 (basal), 50, 100, or 200% endogenous cholesterol synthesis. Guinea pigs maintained stable plasma cholesterol levels until cholesterol intake equaled or exceeded endogenous synthesis (P < 0.001). Fat type independently affected plasma total and LDL cholesterol levels such that lard > corn oil, with olive oil being intermediate (P < 0.05). Hepatic membrane apoB/E receptor number (Bmax) decreased as dietary cholesterol increased (P < 0.001) without an independent effect of dietary fat saturation. Bmax values were significantly correlated with plasma LDL cholesterol levels (r = -0.632), and with hepatic free (r = 0.527) and esterified cholesterol (r = -0.512) concentrations, which were both increased with dietary cholesterol (P < 0.001). Significant interactions between dietary fat type and cholesterol mediated the extent of hepatic free and esterified cholesterol accumulation. Dietary fat and cholesterol interactions also contributed to changes in LDL particle composition and peak density. The results of these studies do not support the thesis that dietary cholesterol-mediated suppression of apoB/E receptor expression is ameliorated by intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Dietary fat type and cholesterol amount interactively affect hepatic cholesterol concentrations and LDL composition and size, which in part determine plasma LDL cholesterol levels.

Effects of nitrate respiration on expression of the Arc-controlled operons encoding succinate dehydrogenase and flavin-linked L-lactate dehydrogenase

Expression of sdhCDAB (encoding succinate dehydrogenase) and lctD (encoding the flavin-linked L-lactate dehydrogenase) is elevated aerobically and repressed anaerobically in Escherichia coli. The repression is initiated by autophosphorylation of the sensor protein ArcB, followed by phosphoryl group transfer to the regulator ArcA. ArcA-P, a global transcriptional regulator, then prevents sdh and lct expression. The stimulus for ArcB is not O2 deficiency per se. In vitro experiments showed that ArcB phosphorylation is enhanced by pyruvate, D-lactate, acetate, and NADH, the concentrations of which are likely to increase with the lack of an effective exogenous electron sink. In addition to their aerobic function, the two primary dehydrogenases also have roles in anaerobic nitrate respiration. Results presented here indicate that the increase of sdh and lct expression by nitrate depended on its chemical reduction, which in turn diminished the ArcA-P pool. Unexpectedly, a mutation in the fnr gene (encoding a global regulator involved in anaerobic metabolism) also alleviated the anaerobic repressions. Mutations in arcB or arcA were epistatic over that of fnr. Moreover, since this relief was counteracted by pyruvate in the growth medium, Fnr appears to affect formation of stimuli for ArcB. It is possible that Fnr also indirectly affects some of the other members of the arcA modulon, e.g., cyoABCDE (encoding the cytochrome o complex), cydAB (encoding the cytochrome d complex), and sodA (encoding the manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase).

The deduced amino-acid sequence of the cloned cpxR gene suggests the protein is the cognate regulator for the membrane sensor, CpxA, in a two-component signal transduction system of Escherichia coli

The cpxA gene of Escherichia coli K-12 encodes a membrane-associated sensor element of a two-component signal transduction system in bacteria. The cognate regulator element, however, has not yet been definitively identified. A 2.1-kb segment upstream from cpxA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, cloned and sequenced. An open reading frame encoding 232 amino acids was found. It showed high homology to the regulator elements of two-component transduction systems. The newly identified gene, designated as cpxR, may encode the cognate protein receiving signals from CpxA.

Three overlapping lct genes involved in L-lactate utilization by Escherichia coli

In Escherichia coli, the lct locus at min 80 on the chromosome map is associated with ability to grow on L-lactate and to synthesize a substrate-inducible flavin-linked dehydrogenase. Similar to that of the glpD-encoded aerobic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, the level of induced enzyme activity is elevated by aerobiosis. Both of these controls are mediated by the two-component signal transduction system ArcB/ArcA, although sensitivity to the control is much more striking for L-lactate dehydrogenase. This study disclosed that the lct locus contained three overlapping genes in the clockwise order of lctD (encoding a flavin mononucleotide-dependent dehydrogenase), lctR (encoding a putative regulator), and lctP (encoding a permease) on the chromosomal map. These genes, however, are transcribed in the counterclockwise direction. No homology in amino acid sequence was found between aerobic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and L-lactate dehydrogenase. A phi (lctD-lac) mutant was inducible by L-lactate but not D-lactate. Although the mutant lost the ability to grow on L-lactate, growth on D-lactate, known to depend on a different enzyme, remained normal.

A novel method to study the electrodynamic behavior of actin filaments. Evidence for cable-like properties of actin

Actin, one of the most abundant intracellular proteins, forms long linear polyelectrolytic polymers in solution. A novel technique to handle single actin filaments in solution was developed that allows the study of ionic currents elicited along the surface of electrically stimulated actin filaments. Electrical currents were observed about the polymer's surface under both high (100 mM KCl) and low (1 mM KCl) ionic strength conditions. The data are consistent with a dynamic behavior of the counterionic cloud surrounding the actin filaments that support ionic movements along their longitudinal axis upon electrical stimulation. Counterionic waves were highly nonlinear in nature and remained long after the electrical stimulation of the actin filaments ceased. In this report therefore, we demonstrate that actin filaments can function as biological "electrical wires" and can thus be conceptualized as nonlinear inhomogeneous transmission lines. This ability of actin filaments to conduct electrical signals may have important implications in the coupling of intracellular signals.

Adaptation of Escherichia coli to redox environments by gene expression

Escherichia coli is adroit in exploiting environmental energy sources to its greatest profit. A key strategy is to channel electron transport from donor to a terminal acceptor(s) so that the voltage drop is maximal. At the level of transcription, the goal is achieved by the interaction of three global regulatory systems, Fnr, NarL/NarX and ArcB/ArcA. In addition, the regulator FhlA is involved in a cascade-controlled pathway for the formate branch of the pyruvate fermentation pathway.

Prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) pectin reverses low density lipoprotein receptor suppression induced by a hypercholesterolemic diet in guinea pigs

The effects of prickly pear pectin on plasma LDL metabolism were investigated by feeding guinea pigs either a diet containing 15 g/100 g lard and 0.25 g/100 g cholesterol (LC diet) or the LC diet in which cellulose was partially replaced (2.5 g/100 g) by prickly pear pectin (LC-P diet). The LC-P diet lowered plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations by 33% (P < 0.001). Low density lipoprotein composition was modified by intake of prickly pear pectin; the relative percentages of free and esterified cholesterol were lower and triglycerides were higher in LDL from animals fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.05). Intake of prickly pear pectin did not affect hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity; however, hepatic free and esterified cholesterol concentrations were lowered by 46 and 64%, respectively. Hepatic apolipoprotein B/E receptor expression (Bmax) was 60% higher in animals fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.01). Similar to the in vitro data, receptor-mediated LDL fractional catabolic rates were 190% higher in animals fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.05), whereas apolipoprotein LDL flux rates were not affected. Apolipoprotein LDL pool size and fractional catabolic rates exhibited a significant correlation (r = -0.52, P < 0.01). These data indicate that an increase in apolipoprotein B/E receptor expression is a major metabolic response by which intake of prickly pear pectin decreases plasma LDL concentrations.

Differential effects of saturated fatty acids on low density lipoprotein metabolism in the guinea pig

Studies have shown that dietary fat saturation affects guinea pig plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels by altering both LDL receptor-mediated catabolism and flux rates of LDL (Fernandez et al. 1992. J. Lipid Res. 33: 97-109). The present studies investigated whether saturated fatty acids of varying chain lengths have differential effects on LDL metabolism. Guinea pigs were fed 15% (w/w, 35% calories) fat diets containing either palm kernel oil (PK), 52% lauric acid/18% myristic acid; palm oil (PO), 43% palmitic acid/4% stearic acid; or beef tallow (BT), 23% palmitic acid/14% stearic acid. Plasma LDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher for animals fed the PK diet (P < 0.001) with values of 83 +/- 19 (n = 12), 53 +/- 8 (n = 12) and 44 +/- 16 (n = 10) mg/dl for PK, PO, and BT diets, respectively. The relative percentage composition of LDL was modified by fat type; however, LDL diameters and peak densities were not different between diets, indicating no effect of saturated fatty acid composition on LDL size. ApoB/E receptor-mediated LDL fractional catabolic rates (FCR) were significantly lower in animals fed the PK diet (P < 0.01) and LDL apoB flux rates were reduced (P < 0.01) in animals fed the BT diet. A correlation was found between plasma LDL levels and receptor-mediated LDL catabolism (r = -0.66, P < 0.01). A higher apoB/E receptor number (Bmax), determined by in vitro LDL binding to guinea pig hepatic membranes, was observed for animals fed BT versus PK or PO diets and Bmax values were significantly correlated with plasma LDL levels (r = -0.776, P < 0.001). These results indicate that saturated fatty acids of varying chain length have differential effects on hepatic apoB/E receptor expression and on LDL apoB flux rates which in part account for differences in plasma LDL cholesterol levels of guinea pigs fed these saturated fats.

Dietary fat type and cholesterol quantity interact to affect cholesterol metabolism in guinea pigs

Interactions of dietary fat saturation with dietary cholesterol on cholesterol homeostasis in guinea pigs were studied by feeding 15% (wt/wt) fat diets containing lard, olive oil or corn oil, with 0.00, 0.08, 0.17 or 0.33% added cholesterol. Plasma total and LDL cholesterol concentrations significantly increased with increasing dietary cholesterol, with pronounced increments occurring at the pharmacologic (0.33%) level. An interaction between fat type and dietary cholesterol was seen for HDL cholesterol concentrations. Saturated fat and the pharmacologic level of dietary cholesterol increased plasma HDL concentrations, whereas polyunsaturated fat minimized the dietary cholesterol-mediated increase. Interactions were also observed for hepatic cholesterol: dietary cholesterol increased both free and esterified hepatic cholesterol concentrations in all groups fed all the dietary fats, and fat type influenced the extent of hepatic cholesterol accumulation. Lard-fed animals accumulated the least hepatic cholesterol over the range of dietary cholesterol intakes. Dietary cholesterol suppressed hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity, with maximal suppression at all levels of cholesterol intake. Dietary cholesterol had a greater effect on plasma and hepatic cholesterol concentrations and hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity than did fat type. The data indicated limited interactions of fat type and cholesterol quantity in altering mechanisms regulating plasma cholesterol homeostasis.

Purification and phosphorylation of the Arc regulatory components of Escherichia coli

In Escherichia coli, a two-component signal transduction system, consisting of the transmembrane sensor protein ArcB and its cognate cytoplasmic regulatory protein ArcA, controls the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in aerobic respiration. ArcB belongs to a subclass of sensors that have not only a conserved histidine-containing transmitter domain but also a conserved aspartate-containing receiver domain of the regulator family. 'ArcB (a genetically truncated ArcB missing the two transmembrane segments on the N-terminal end) and ArcA were purified from overproducing cells. Autophosphorylation of 'ArcB was revealed when the protein was incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP but not with [alpha-32P]ATP or [gamma-32P]GTP. When ArcA was incubated in the presence of 'ArcB and [gamma-32P]ATP, ArcA acquired radioactivity at the expense of the phosphorylated protein 'ArcB-32P. When a limited amount of 'ArcB was incubated with excess ArcA and [gamma-32P]ATP, ArcA-32P increased linearly with time. Under such conditions, for a given time period the amount of ArcA phosphorylated was proportional to the concentration of 'ArcB. Thus, 'ArcB acted as a kinase for ArcA. Chemical stabilities of the phosphorylated proteins suggested that 'ArcB-32P contained both a histidyl phosphate and an aspartyl phosphate(s) and that ArcA-32P contained only an aspartyl phosphate(s).

Mutational analysis of signal transduction by ArcB, a membrane sensor protein responsible for anaerobic repression of operons involved in the central aerobic pathways in Escherichia coli

In Escherichia coli, the expression of a group of operons involved in aerobic metabolism is regulated by a two-component signal transduction system in which the arcB gene specifies the membrane sensor protein and the arcA gene specifies the cytoplasmic regulator protein. ArcB is a large protein belonging to a subclass of sensors that have both a transmitter domain (on the N-terminal side) and a receiver domain (on the C-terminal side). In this study, we explored the essential structural features of ArcB by using mutant analysis. The conserved His-292 in the transmitter domain is indispensable, indicating that this residue is the autophosphorylation site, as shown for other homologous sensor proteins. Compression of the range of respiratory control resulting from deletion of the receiver domain and the importance of the conserved Asp-533 and Asp-576 therein suggest that the domain has a kinetic regulatory role in ArcB. There is no evidence that the receiver domain enhances the specificity of signal transduction by ArcB. The defective phenotype of all arcB mutants was corrected by the presence of the wild-type gene. We also showed that the expression of the gene itself is not under respiratory regulation.

Regulation of guinea pig plasma low density lipoprotein kinetics by dietary fat saturation

Dietary fat saturation has been shown to affect hepatic apoB/E receptor expression and to modify low density lipoprotein (LDL) composition and density in guinea pigs. The current studies were designed to investigate the independent and interactive effects of dietary fat saturation alterations in apoB/E receptor expression and LDL composition on in vivo LDL turnover kinetics, both receptor-mediated and receptor-independent. Guinea pigs were fed semi-purified diets containing 15% fat, either polyunsaturated corn oil (CO), monounsaturated olive oil (OL), or saturated lard, and injected with radioiodinated LDL isolated from animals fed the homologous diet. Blood samples were obtained over 33 h to determine apoLDL fractional catabolic rates (FCR) and flux rates. Compared to animals fed OL- or lard-based diets, intake of the CO-based diet resulted in a 50% decrease in LDL apoB pool size associated with a twofold increase in receptor-mediated FCR (P less than 0.001) and a 28% decrease in flux rate (P less than 0.05). Maximal LDL binding capacity of hepatic apoB/E receptors, determined in vitro, was twofold higher for animals fed the CO-based diet compared to guinea pigs fed the OL- and lard-based diets (P less than 0.01). There was a significant correlation between hepatic apoB/E receptor number and in vivo receptor-mediated LDL FCR (r = 0.987). Significant differences in LDL turnover were related to the source of LDL. When injected into animals fed a nonpurified commercial diet, the smaller, cholesteryl ester-depleted LDL isolated from animals fed the CO-based diet had a twofold higher FCR compared to larger LDLs from guinea pigs fed the OL- and lard-based diets, which had similar turnover rates. When LDL from animals fed the commercial diet was radiolabeled and injected into animals fed the three types of dietary fat, significant differences in LDL turnover were observed in the order CO greater than lard greater than OL, suggesting that intravascular processing and tissue uptake of the smaller LDL from animals fed the commercial diet varies depending on the dietary fat saturation fed to the recipient animals. These studies demonstrate that guinea pigs fed polyunsaturated fat diets lower plasma LDL levels in part by an increase in apoB/E receptor-mediated fractional LDL turnover and a decrease in apoLDL flux. In addition, fat saturation alters LDL composition and size which independently affect LDL turnover rates in vivo.