A modification of the Lowry procedure to simplify protein determination in membrane and lipoprotein samples

A calcium-stimulated alkaline phosphatase associated with synaptic vesicles

Synaptic vesicles isolated from bovine cerebral cortex were found to contain alkaline phosphatase activity towards p-nitrophenylphosphate and alpha-naphthyl phosphate, but not towards pyridoxal phosphate. The enzyme had an apparent molecular weight of 125,000 and co-purified with the synaptic vesicles in parallel with the specific neurotransmitter content and with the loss of contaminating components, whereas the major phosphatase which was present in the brain homogenate, with an apparent molecular weight of 140,000 purified away. The optimal pH for the enzyme activity on p-nitrophenylphosphate was 9.8. At this pH the activity was 33.4 nmol/mg protein/min, and the apparent Km value was 0.31 +/- 0.05 mM. The pH dependency of the synaptic vesicle phosphatase activity towards p-nitrophenylphosphate differed from that of the Ca2+/Mg2+-dependentt ATP hydrolysis by the synaptic vesicles. Upon mild digestion of lyzed vesicles with trypsin, phosphatase activity was reduced whereas the ATPase activity was retained suggesting that the phosphatase and the ATPase are two different enzymes. The phosphatase was reversibly inhibited by ethyleneglycol bis (aminoethyl ether) N,N'-tetracetic acid (EGTA) and activity was restored by the addition of an equimolar amount of CA2+. Magnesium ions could restore only 30% of the activity. The activity of the synaptic vesicle phosphatase was not affected by o-phenanthroline, zinc ion or by cAMP. Tetranitromethane inactivated the enzyme irreversibly, whereas phenylmethanesulfonylfluoride diisopropylfluorophosphate and p-hydroxymercurybenzoate inhibited the activity partially. The enzyme did not have a diesterase activity. Adenosine mono-, di- and triphosphate inhibited the p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity and were also hydrolyzed by the vesicle preparation. However, the different kinetic parameters obtained with the nucleotide as inhibitors or as substrates suggest that additional enzymes are involved in the hydrolysis of the adenine nucleotides in vesicle preparation.

Neurotrophic control of 16S acetylcholinesterase from mammalian skeletal muscle in organ culture

The effects of rat obturator nerve extracts on total and 16S acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were studied in endplate regions of denervated anterior gracilis muscles maintained in organ culture for 48 hr. The decrease of total AChE activity in cultured muscles was similar to that observed in denervated muscles in vivo. This decrease in activity was partly prevented by addition of either 100 or 200 microliters nerve extract (2.7 mg/ml protein) to the nutrient medium. Nerve extract treatment also decreased the release of AChE activity from the muscle into the bathing medium. Conversely, rat serum (20 microliters: 90 mg/ml protein) had no effect on total AChE activity in muscle endplates, nor on release of the enzyme by the muscle. The 16S form of AChE was confined to motor endplate muscle regions and its activity was drastically decreased by denervation in both organ culture and in vivo preparations in a comparable manner. Nerve-extract supplemented cultures contained a significantly (p < 0.001) larger amount of endplate 16S AChE activity (140--145%) than the corresponding controls (100%). Our results suggest that some nerve soluble substance, other than serum contaminants or 16S AChE itself, affects the maintenance of 16S AChE at the neuromuscular junction.

Protease inhibitors reduce effects of denervation on muscle end-plate acetylcholinesterase

The effects of certain protease inhibitors on end-plate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, as well as on wet weight and total protein, were studied in vivo in intact and denervated anterior gracilis muscles from the rat. A combination of leupeptin, pepstatin, and aprotinin, administered intraarterially, partly prevented the early (24 h) denervation-induced decrease in muscle weight and protein content. In turn, leupeptin and aprotinin, either alone or in combination, markedly reduced the decay of AChE activity in the denervated muscles, whereas pepstatin alone was ineffective. Such effects were additive in that the inhibitors in combination were more effective than when they were used separately. Additional experiments indicated that none of the inhibitors, at the concentrations used, affected AChE activity directly, nor did they have a significant effect during processing of the muscle samples. These findings indicate that the initial decay of AChE activity with denervation was effectively reduced by the inhibitors, probably through inactivation of proteolytic enzymes which, otherwise, would be increase in denervated muscle.

Characterization of type 1 pili of Salmonella typhimurium LT2

Type 1 pili from Salmonella typhimurium LT2 were purified and characterized. The pilus filaments were 6 nm in diameter and over 1 microns long. Estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the molecular weight of the pilin was 21,000. The isoelectric point of the filament was 4.1. Hydrophobic amino acids comprised 40.3% of the total amino acids of the pilin, which contained more proline, serine, and lysine than reported for the type 1 pilin of Escherichia coli. Purified pili agglutinated both horse and chicken erythrocytes and yeast cells but not bovine, sheep, or human erythrocytes. Horse erythrocyte agglutination was inhibited at lower concentrations by alpha-methyl-D-mannoside than by yeast mannane and D-fructose. Agglutination was not affected by D-galactose or sucrose. Results of the present study confirm the role of type 1 pili as Salmonella hemagglutinins and show chemical differences between the type 1 pili of S. typhimurium and E. coli.

Comparison of quantitative and qualitative antibody-producing cell responses to lipopolysaccharide in cell walls of the bacterial form and in membranes of the protoplast L-form of Proteus mirabilis

Membranes of the stable protoplast L-form of Proteus mirabilis strain VI were highly immunogenic carriers of lipopolysaccharide when compared with the immune responses to lipopolysaccharide contained in cell walls of the bacterial form of this organism.

Size heterogeneity of Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharides in outer membranes and culture supernatant membrane fragments

Enterobacteriaceae cells growing in liquid media shed fragments of their outer membranes. These fragments, which may constitute a biologically important form of gram-negative bacterial endotoxin, have been reported to contain proteins, phospholipids, and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). In this study we compared the sizes of LPS molecules in shed membrane fragments and outer membranes from cells growing in broth cultures. Using conditional mutants of Salmonella typhimurium which incorporate specific sugars into LPS, we analyzed radiolabeled LPS by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This technique revealed that S. typhimurium LPS are more heterogeneous than previously known; molecules possessing from 0 to more than 30 O-chain repeat units were identified in outer membranes, supernatant fragments, and purified LPS. The size distributions of LPS molecules in outer membranes and supernatant fragments were similar; supernatant fragments appeared to be slightly enriched in molecules with long O-polysaccharide chains. Our results indicate the LPS molecules of many sizes are synthesized, translocated to outer membranes, and released into culture supernatants. Since the hydrophilic O-polysaccharides extend from bacterial surfaces into the aqueous environment, our findings suggest that the cell surface topography of this bacterium may be very irregular. We also speculate that heterogeneity in the degree of polymerization of O-antigenic side chains may influence the interactions of the toxic moiety of LPS (lipid A) with host constituents.

The uptake of iron by reticulocytes. The influence of purification of the ghosts on iron-containing components in the ghost suspension

1. Rat reticulocytes previously incubated with ((59)Fe, (125)I)-labelled transferrin were hemolysed to yield labelled ghosts. 2. The solubilized ghosts can be fractionated, by gel filtration on Sepharose 2B and 6B, into several (59)Fe- and (125)I-containing compounds, classified as A, B(1) and B(2). 3. These fractions were prepared from ghosts which were obtained at different centrifugation rates and further purified by sucrose density gradient centrifugation in order to obtain membrane compounds purified from mitochondrial and lysosomal impurities. The influence of these purification steps on the appearance and the (59)Fe/(125)I activity of the three components was investigated. 4. The first Sepharose 2B fraction with high molecular mass, greater than 10(6) daltons, is an intracellular product of mitochondrial and lysosomal origin which precipitates with the membrane fractions during the preparation of the ghost. The first Sepharose 6B fraction, B(1), with M(r) approximately 10(6) seems to be a real membrane component. The second Sepharose 6B fraction, B(2), with M(r) approximately 230 000 represents a real membrane receptor transferrin.

The effect of lipid-depletion on the kinetic properties of rat liver monoamine oxidase-B

The extraction of lipids from rat liver mitochondrial membranes by 2-butanone treatment inhibited the activity of membrane-bound monoamine oxidase -A but not -B. For the -B form, the apparent Michaelis constants of the enzyme towards oxygen and the maximum molecular turnover numbers obtained when beta-phenethylamine and benzylamine were used as substrates were not significantly changed by the lipid-depletion procedure, but the values of the Michaelis constant towards benzylamine was significantly increased after lipid-depletion. The differential sensitivity of beta-phenethylamine and benzylamine oxidation to inhibition by Tris-HCl was not changed after lipid-depletion. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the mitochondrial membrane lipids, while essential for the activity of the -A form of the enzyme in rat liver, play a more subtle modulatory role in the activity of the -B form.

Sendai virus utilizes specific sialyloligosaccharides as host cell receptor determinants

Purified sialyltransferases (CMP-N-acetyl-neuraminate:D-galactosyl-glycoprotein N-acetylneuraminyl-transferase, EC 2.4.99.1) in conjunction with neuraminidase (acylneuraminyl hydrolase, EC 3.2.1.18) were used to produce cell surface sialyloligosaccharides of defined sequence to investigate their role in paramyxovirus infection of host cells. Infection of Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells by Sendai virus was monitored by hemagglutination titer of the virus produced and by changes in morphological characteristics. By either criterion, treatment of the cells with Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase to remove cell surface sialic acids rendered them resistant to infection by Sendai virus. Endogenous replacement of receptors by the cell occurred slowly but supported maximal levels of infection within 6 hr. In contrast, sialylation during a 20-min incubation with CMP-sialic acid and beta-galactoside alpha 2,3-sialytransferase restored full susceptibility to infection. This enzyme elaborates the NeuAc alpha 2,3Gal beta 1,3GalNAc (NeuAc, N-acetylneuraminic acid) sequence on glycoproteins and glycolipids. No restoration of infectivity was observed when neuraminidase-treated cells were sialylated by using beta-galactoside alpha 2,6-sialytransferase, which elaborates the NeuAc-alpha 2,6Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc sequence. These results suggest that sialyloligosaccharide receptor determinants of defined sequence are required for Sendai virus infection of host cells.

Effect of high and low density lipoproteins on proliferation of cultured bovine vascular endothelial cells

Bovine vascular endothelial cells maintained on dishes coated with an extracellular matrix and exposedto medium supplemented with lipoprotein-deficient serum (LPDS) require the presence of lipoprotein to proliferate optimally. High density lipoprotein (HDL) seems to be the major factor involved in the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. This is mostly due to its lack of toxicity when added at high concentration, as well as to its nondependence on LPDS to exhibit its mitogenic properties. Therefore, HDL at physiological concentrations (1,000--1,500 microgram protein/ml) can fully replace serum. Low density lipoprotein, unlike HDL, has a biphasic effect. Although mitogenic for vascular endothelial cells when added at low concentration, once physiological concentrations are reached it becomes toxic for the cells. Moreover, and in contrast with HDL, the mitogenic effect of low density lipoprotein was found to be a function of the LPDS concentration to which cultures were exposed. The substrate upon which cultures are maintained has been found to be an important factor if a mitogenic effect of HDL is to be observed. When maintained on plastic, cells proliferate poorly in response to HDL unless fibroblast growth factor is added to the medium. In contrast, when maintained on extracellular matrix, an optimal growth rate is induced by HDL, even in the absence of fibroblast growth factor. This suggests that, in vivo, the integrity of the basement membrane upon which endothelial cells rest and migrate is an important factor in determining the cells response to lipoproteins present in plasma.

On the role of cross-linking of cellular proteins in aging

Water-insoluble protein fractions increase in the brain cortical tissue and liver of rats during aging in both sexes. This suggests a possible increase in the cross-linking of proteins which may be due to the formation of, for example, hydroxyl free radicals during several metabolic processes. In vivo application of centrophenoxine causes a reversal of this phenomenon in old rats. In vitro experiments show that the generation of hydroxyl free radicals by chemical systems like homolysis of H2O2 by redox coupling with Fe2+ leads to Fe3+ conversion, results in the cross-linking of bovine serum albumin and the mixed proteins of liver or brain homogenates of young rats. The cross-linked proteins have a very much increased molecular weight, they become mostly insoluble even in 6 M urea. Dimethylaminoethanol, the effective part of the centrophenoxine molecules, is able to diminish the extent of cross-linking, acting most probably as a free-radical scavenger. The results are discussed in terms of the "membrane hypothesis of aging". A molecular basis is proposed for the anti-aging effect of centrophenoxine.

Nucleoside transport in human and sheep erythrocytes. Evidence that nitrobenzylthioinosine binds specifically to functional nucleoside-transport sites

Nitrobenzyl[35S]thioinosine binding and nitro[3H]benzylthioinosine binding to nucleoside-permeable and nucleoside-impermeable sheep erythrocyte membranes was investigated, and compared with that found for human erythrocytes. High-affinity nitrobenzylthioinosine-binding sites (apparent KD congruent to 1 nM) were present on human and nucleoside-permeable but not nucleoside-impermeable sheep erythrocyte membranes (8400 and 18 sites/cell for human and sheep nucleoside-permeable sheep erythrocytes was displaced by nitrobenzylthioguanosine and dipyridamole. Uridine, inosine and adenosine inhibited binding. The smaller number of nitrobenzylthioinosine sites on nucleoside-permeable cells compared with human erythrocytes corresponded to a considerably lower Vmax. for uridine influx in these cells (0.53 X 10(-20) mol/cell per s at 25 degrees C compared with 254 X 10(-20) mol/cell per s). It is suggested that high-affinity nitrobenzylthioinosine binding represents a specific interaction with functional nucleoside-transport sites. The uridine-translocation capacity for each transport site at 25 degrees C is 180 molecules/site per s for both nucleoside-permeable sheep cells and human erythrocytes (assuming a 1:1 interaction between nitrobenzylthioinosine and the nucleoside-transport system).

Prostaglandin endoperoxide metabolism by bovine cerebral microvessels

Isolated bovine cerebral microvessels were found to contain two prostaglandin endoperoxide-metabolizing activities: prostaglandin H2-E2 isomerase and prostacyclin synthetase. At low tissue protein concentrations (i.e., less than 1 mg/ml) and in the presence of reduced glutathione, formation of prostaglandin E2 was favored (about 80% of total prostaglandin products), whereas at higher protein concentrations, in the presence or absence of reduced glutathione, 6-keto-prostaglanding F1 alpha, the stable breakdown product of prostacyclin, was the major product (40-50% of total). Despite an increase in apparent prostacyclin formation, glutathione-enhanced prostaglandin E2 production was still evident at protein concentrations exceeding 1 mg/ml. No apparent enzymatic prostaglandin E2 forming activity was evident in whole cerebral cortex or pial artery homogenates although some GSH-enhanced prostaglandin E2 formation could be demonstrated in microsomes prepared from these tissues. These findings indicate that prostaglandin E2 formation is a dominant enzymatic endoperoxide-metabolizing activity in microvessels, and that this pathway may be primarily localized to the microvasculature. However, they also indicate that enzyme/substrate ratios and endogenous cofactor availability may affect the outcome of endoperoxide metabolism in the bovine cerebral microvasculature, Prostaglandin E2 and prostacyclin generated in the microvasculature could participate in the regulation of various functions, e.g., regional flow and capillary permeability.

Molecular characteristics of human platelet monoamine oxidase

The monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) selective inhibitor J-508 (N-methyl-N-propargyl-(1-indanyl)-ammonium chloride) appears to interact with MAO-B in a manner consistent with a "suicide" reaction. Because of this property, J-508 could be used, under the appropriate conditions, to "titrate" the concentration of MAO-B active centres in the human platelet, although some non-specific binding of this compound to sites other than the active centre of this enzyme form was found, thus limiting the accuracy of the titration method. The molecular characteristics of human platelet MAO-B (Km, Vmax, approximate enzyme concentrations and molecular turnover members) towards three of its monoamine substrates have been estimated. The natural variation of platelet MAO-B activity from individual to individual is due to a variation in the Vmax without a variation in the Km towards benzylamine is substrate, and is based, at least in part, upon a variation in the concentration of this enzyme form.

Regulation of acetylcholinesterase by nerve growth factor in the pheochromocytoma PC12 cell line

In the PC12 clonal nerve cell line derived from a rat pheochromocytoma, the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is regulated by nerve growth factor (NGF). The specific activity of AChE was significantly increased 2 days after exposure of PC12 cells to NGF (8 X 10(-8) M), and reached its maximal increase of 94% after 3 days. Thereafter the specific activity of AChE did not significantly vary during the following 7 days. AChE cytochemistry showed the enzyme activity to be localized predominantly in cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, with a strongly enhanced activity after NGF treatment.

Renal glucosyltransferase activity in highly-inbred spontaneously diabetic Chinese hamsters

A modified glucosyltransferase assay using degraded gelatin as acceptors was found to be enzyme concentration- and time-dependent in the Chinese hamster kidney extracts. In 54 Chinese hamsters selected from 7 highly inbred sublines with or without spontaneous glycosuria, the glucosyltransferase activity (0.78-3.25 unit/g) in the kidney was found to be significantly correlated (P = 0.0002) to blood sugar concentrations (60-475 mg/dl). However, subline-dependent variation in glycosyltransferase activity was also evident and, in animals from 2 of the 5 diabetic sublines, similar activity of glucosyltransferase was found in their kidneys as in those of nondiabetic animals. It was concluded that renal glucosyltransferase activity was affected by blood sugar level as well as by genetically determined factor(s).

Titration of human brain type-B monoamine oxidase

The interaction of the substrate-selective irreversible inhibitor J-508 [N-methyl-N-propargyl-(1-indanyl)-ammonium hydrochloride] with the B form of human brain monoamine oxidase has been investigated, and the conditions necessary for this inhibitor to "titrate" the concentration of this enzyme form determined. It was found that the concentration of monoamine oxidase-B determined in this way was the same when either benzylamine or beta-phenethylamine was used to assay for activity, which would indicate that this enzyme form is not heterogeneous. Furthermore, the variation in activity from sample to sample was found to be due to a variation in the concentration of available monoamine oxidase-B active centers, raher than due to a variation in the molecular turnover numbers of this enzyme form towards its amine substrates.

Energization of amino acid transport in energy-depleted Ehrlich cells and plasma membrane vesicles

We redirect attention to contributions to the energization, of the active transport of amino acids in the Ehrlich cell, beyond the known energization, by down-gradient comigration of Na+, beyond possible direct energization by coupling to ATP breakdown, and beyond known energization by exchange with prior accumulations of amino acids. We re-emphasize the uphill operation of System L, and by prior depletion of cellular amino acids show that this system must receive energy beyond that made available by their coupled exodus. After this depletion the Na+-indepdendent accumulation of the norbornane amino acid, 2-aminobicycloheptane-2-carboxylic acid becomes strongly subject to stimulation by incubation with glucose. Energy transfer between Systems A and L through the mutual substrate action of ordinary amino acids was minimized although not entirely avoided by the use of amino acid analogs specific to each system. When 2,4-dinitrophenol was included in the depleting treatment, and pyruvate, phenazine methosulfate, or glucose used for restoration, recovery of uptake of the norbornane amino acid was independent of external Na+ or K+ levels. Restoration or the uptake of 2-(methylamino)isobutyric acid was, however, decreased by omission of external K+. Contrary to an earlier finding, restoration of uptake of each of these amino acids was associated with distinct and usually correlated rises in cellular ATP levels. ATP addition failed to stimulate exodus of the norbornane amino acid from plasma membrane vesicles, although either NADH or phenazine methosulfate did stimulate exodus. ATP production and use is thus associated with transport energization although evidence for a direct role failed to appear.

Solubilization and partial characterization of rat liver iodothyronine deiodinases

Rat liver cells contain iodothyronine deiodinating enzymes (iodothyronine-5 and 5'-deiodinases), which are associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. In the present study, the iodothyronine deiodinases have been solubilized from the microsomal fraction of rat liver with 1.0% cholate and 0.25% of the polyoxyethylene ether W-1. Cholate can be effectively removed from the cholate extract with a mixture of the polystyrene beads XAD-2 and XAD-7. However, after some time, aggregation of proteins occurred. Cholate solubilized iodothyronine-5'-deiodinase has an apparent molecular weight of 65,000 and a Stokes radius of 36-37 A. The sedimentation coefficient is 4.3 S in 0.4-0.6% cholate, 7.6 S in 0.05% W-1 ether and 12.8 S in the absence of detergent. The enzyme solubilized with W-1 ether has an apparent molecular weight of approx. 200,000 and a Stokes radius of 52-56 A in 0.025% W-1 ether. In the latter extract, the sedimentation coefficient of the deiodinase is 4.3-5.2 S under different conditions. On DEAE-Sepharose chromatography, 70% of the bound deiodinases eluted with 0.1 M NaCl. The purification of this fraction was only 2-fold. Covalent chromatography, using activated thiol-Sepharose, resulted in approximately 3-fold purification of the deiodinases solubilized with W-1 ether, whereas in case of the cholate extract, no purification at all was obtained. Glutathione-Sepharose affinity chromatography resulted in no enrichment of the deiodinases.

Titration of human brain monoamine oxidase -A and -B by clorgyline and L-deprenil

The interaction of clorgyline and L-deprenil with the -A and -B forms of human brain monoamine oxidase (MAO) has been studied. Both compounds inhibit cerebrocortical MAO in a manner consistent with a 'suicide' inactivation of the enzyme. The interaction of clorgyline with the -A form of the enzyme appears to take place almost entirely at specific binding sites, and the conditions required for this inhibitor to 'titrate' the concentrations of MAO-A have been elucidated. L-Deprenil has also been used to titrate the concentration of the -B form of MAO in cerebrocortical homogenates, but there is a considerable degree of non-specific binding of this compound. The two inhibitors have been used to titrate the concentrations of the two enzyme forms in frontal cortex homogenates from different age groups. There was a significantly higher MAO-B activity for the age range 73--95 years than for the age range 2--63 years. No significant differences between the two age groups were found for MAO-A. The activity of MAO-A in the samples correlated very well with the concentration of this enzyme form. Titration of the B-form of the enzyme with L-deprenil indicated an increased enzyme concentration with age, although other factors, such as the non-specific binding of this compound, could contribute to this effect.

Antigenic diversity of the serotype antigen complex of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: analysis by an indirect enzyme-linked immunoassay

An indirect enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) has been developed to analyze the antigenic profile of the outer membrane serotype complex of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Antisera raised in rabbits to serotype-specific vesicles (SSV) reacted primarily with homologous SSV; however, there was significant cross-reactivity (less than 50%) with heterologous SSV. N. meningitidis SSV cross-reacted with all antigonococcal SSV but at a lower degree (less than 20%). Preimmune sera did not cross-react significantly with all antigonoccoccal SSV. The sensitivity of the ELISA was enhanced when the integral SSV proteins 1a and 2 were used as adsorbed antigen. Heterologous anti-SSV cross-reacted slightly, having ELISA values less than 15% of the homologous reaction. Antisera prepared by immunoabsorbent affinity columns were highly specific. Homologous affinity anti-SSV reacted only with proteins 1a and 2. The reaction of immune sera was inhibited by homologous proteins 1a and 2; lipopolysaccharide and proteins 1a and 2 isolated from heterologous serotypes did not inhibit the reaction. The reaction of affinity-purified antisera could be inhibited only by homologous protein 1a. By the use of affinity-purified antisera, a specific and highly sensitive ELISA was developed to analyze the antigenic profile of strains of N. gonorrhoeae.

The effect of age on the activity and molecular properties of human brain monoamine oxidase

The effect of age upon monoamine oxidase -A and -B (MAO-A and -B) in 23 different, regions of human brain was determined. There was a significant positive correlation with age in 19 out of 23 regions for MAO-B, but no positive correlation with age was found for MAO-A. The increased MAO-B activity was found, in 5 out of 5 regions tested, to be due entirely to an increased enzyme concentration, rather than due to an increased molecular turnover number of the enzyme. The responses of the mitochondrial marker enzymes succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) were studied in 5 brain regions, and no consistent change in activity found with age. The lysosomal enzyme acid phosphatase was found to tend towards an increased activity with age. No difference in either the specific activities or molecular characteristics of MAO were found between men and women. Cross-correlation studies of the data, after compensation for the effects of age, indicated that the activities of the two enzyme forms are under some form of organized control across the whole brain. Such a finding is consistent with a genetic regulation of the enzyme forms.

Characterization of serologically dominant outer membrane proteins of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The proteins of the outer membrane of Neisseria gonorrhoeae play an important role in the serotyping system defined by K. H. Johnston et al. (J. Exp. Med. 143:741-758, 1976). This study attempted to delineate the molecular arrangement of the major proteins of the outer membrane of the gonococcus by using three approaches. First, natural protein-protein relationships were demonstrated by symmetrical, two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Second, proteins exposed on the surface of outer membrane vesicles were cross-linked by using the bifunctional reagents dimethyl-3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate and dithiobis[succinimidyl propionate]. Third, specific antigen-antibody interactions on the surface of membrane vesicles were analyzed by radioautographic techniques. The major proteins of the outer membrane of the gonococcus were defined, and a nomenclature was devised to take into account the effects of heat and reducing agents on the resolution of these proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results of cross-linking experiments strongly suggest that two of the major proteins of the gonococcal outer membrane (proteins 1 and 3) form a hydrophobically associated trimeric unit in situ which can be stabilized by selective cross-linking reagents. Results substantiated that these proteins are responsible for imparting serotypic specificity.

Immunological characterization of two major proteins isolated from the outer membrane of Proteus mirabilis

Two proteins with apparent molecular weights of 39,000 and 36,000 (M(r) 39,000 and M(r) 36,000, respectively) were isolated from the outer membrane of Proteus mirabilis 19. M(r) 36,000 was shown to be free of detectable amounts of the M(r) 39,000 protein by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and free of lipopolysaccharide according to gas chromatographic analyses of 3-hydroxymyristic acid content. The M(r) 39,000 protein contained no detectable amount of lipopolysaccharide and only a trace of M(r) 36,000. Both isolated proteins gave strong reactions in antisera produced to purified P. mirabilis 19 cell walls (outer membrane proteins in the native state). This suggested that the proteins isolated by our methods essentially retained their native configuration upon resolubilization. Antisera produced in rabbits to the isolated proteins showed strongest reactions with the homologous antigen, but some cross-reactions with the heterologous protein and with P. mirabilis 19 lipopolysaccharide were observed. These cross-reactions could be attributed to specific responses to traces of the heterologous (contaminant) proteins present in the purified proteins used as immunizing antigens. The M(r) 39,000 and M(r) 36,000 proteins have no major antigenic determinants in common. Reactions with P. mirabilis 19 lipopolysaccharide in antisera to the outer membrane proteins could be completely removed by absorption of the antisera with the M(r) 36,000 protein.

New Method for isolation of immunologically pure pili from Escherichia coli

A new technique for purification of bacterial pili was developed and applied to Escherichia coli strains isolated from the urine of patients with symptomatic urinary tract infections. After mechanical detachment from the bacterial cells, the pili were concentrated by precipitation with ammonium sulfate, dialyzed, and solubilized in buffer containing deoxycholate. The fraction containing the pili was purufied further by ultracentrifugation in a sucrose gradient and by elution through a Sepharose 4B column in 6 M urea buffer. The pilus filaments were not dissociated by concentrated urea and were eluted in the void volume of the column. The purified pili had a molecular weight of 17,000. The isoelectric point of the pili from one of the strains was 4.9, and about 43% of the amino acids were hydrophobic. Hyperimmunesera raised in rabbits against the purified pili did not contain detectable antibodies to the lipopolysaccharide O antigen or to the capsular polysaccharide K antigen of the homologous strain. The pili obtained by this purification procedure are free from other detectable bacterial surface antigens, and the purified pilus filaments are of relatively homogeneous size. This procedure enables purification of the pili also from flagellated strains.

The relation between membrane potential and the transport activity of system A and L in plasma membrane vesicles of the Ehrlich cell

Plasma membrane vesicles isolated from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells have been used to investigate the role of the transmembrane potential in the energetics of Systems A and L. As expected, Na+ -dependent System A was responsive to changes in membrane potential. System L activity, as measured by transport of 2-amino-norbornane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH), was shown to be Na+ -independent and was not altered by changes in the membrane potential. The combination of valinomycin and nigericin decreased accumulation of MeAIB but not that of BCH. The presence of nigericin alone caused a significant decrease in uptake by System A and a decrease in uptake by System L to a lesser degree. The inhibitory action of nigericin might reflect its ability to dissipate the Na+ gradient rather than an effect on K+ or H+ flows. The results indicate that modes of energization not produced through the transmembrane potential must account for any uphill operation of System L.

Protein-protein interactions within paramyxoviruses identified by native disulfide bonding or reversible chemical cross-linking

Analysis of native disulfide-bonded protein oligomers in paramyxoviruses showed that some viral proteins are consistently present as covalent complexes. In isolated Sendai virus the hemagglutinating protein HN is present in homodimeric and homotetrameric forms, and the minor nucleocapsid protein P exists partly as a monomer and partly as a disulfide-linked homotrimer. Similar disulfide-linked complexes were observed in Newcastle disease virus (strain HP-16), in which HN exists as a homodimer and some of the major nucleocapsid protein NP exists as a homotrimer. Noncovalent intermolecular interactions between proteins were studied with the reversible chemical cross-linkers dimethyl-3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate and methyl 3-[(p-azidophenyl)dithio]propionimidate, which contain disulfide bridges and a 1.1-nm separation between their functional groups. The same results were achieved with both reagents. The conditions of preparation, isolation, and storage of the viruses affected the protein-protein interactions observed upon cross-linking. Homooligomers of the glycoprotein F, the matrix protein M, and the major nucleocapsid protein NP were produced in both Sendai and Newcastle disease viruses after mild cross-linking of all viral preparations examined, but NP-M heterodimer formation in both viruses was most prevalent in early harvest preparations that were cross-linked soon after isolation. The ability of NP and M to form a heterodimer upon cross-linking indicates that the matrix protein layer lies in close proximity (within 1.1 nm) to the nucleocapsid in the newly formed virion. Some noncovalent intermolecular protein interactions in Sendai and Newcastle disease viruses, i.e., those leading to the formation of F, NP, and M homooliogmers upon cross-linking, are more stable to virus storage than others, i.e., those leading to the formation of an NP-M heterodimer upon cross-linking. The storage-induced loss of the ability of NP and M to form a heterodimer is not accompanied by any apparent loss of infectivity. This indicates that some spacial relationships which form during virus assembly can alter after particle formation and are not essential for the ensuing stages of the infectious process.

Direct linkage of EGF to its receptor: characterization and biological relevance

A small portion of the 125I-EGF that binds specifically to intact cells or isolated membrane from a variety of sources becomes directly and irreversibly linked to EGF receptors. This provides a simple technique for affinity labeling the EGF receptor. Membranes isolated from the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431, which possesses extraordinarily high numbers of EGF receptors, gave rise to three major direct linkage complexes of MW = 160,000, 145,000, and 115,000. The time course for information of each is similar, showing that 125I-EGF can form direct linkage complexes with several preexisting forms of the EGF receptor. The direct linkage of EGF to receptor is slow in comparison to 125I-EGF binding, but both processes have similar susceptibilities to competition by unlabeled EGF. EGF was modified chemically with the amino site-specific reagent, N-hydroxysuccinimidyl biotin. The biotinyl-EGF had a reduced capacity to engage in direct linkage complex formation with no concomitant reduction in its ability to bind to EGF receptors. Since native and biotinyl EGF have identical abilities to stimulate the uptake of 3H-thymidine into DNA when incubated with cultured murine 3T3 cells, the direct linkage of EGF to its receptor does not appear to play an important role in EGF-stimulated mitogenesis.

Tubulin: an integral protein of mammalian synaptic vesicle membranes

The major protein in isolated synaptic vesicles from bovine cerebral cortex has been compared to tubulin by sodium dodecyl sulphate-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and by peptide mapping following limited proteolysis of the protein by Staphylococcus aureus protease. The results establish in purified synaptic vesicles the presence of tubulin, which is composed of the alpha and beta subunits. In the presence of ethyleneglycolbis)aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) or magnesium in the isolation buffers, the synaptic vesicles contained mainly the alpha-tubulin whereas the beta subunit was less abundant. Similarly, synaptosomal plasma membranes that were prepared in the presence of EGTA also contained more of alpha-tubulin than of the beta subunit. Non-ionic detergents such as Triton X-100 or Nonidet P-40 failed to solubilize the tubulin from the synaptic vesicles. Ionic detergents such as deoxycholate and sodium dodecyl sulphate solubilized all the vesicle proteins, including tubulin. The results indicate that alpha-tubulin is an integral vesicle membrane protein, whereas most of the beta subunit is peripherally attached and can be easily dissociated from the vesicle membrane with EGTA.

Properties of receptors for epidermal growth factor in detergent solution: evidence for heterogeneous aggregated states

Between 60% and 100% of epidermal growth factor (EGF) binding activity was recovered from membranes of the A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cell line treated with solutions containing the nonionic detergent Triton X-100. Approximately half of the recovered binding activity was sedimented at low centrifugal force and hence was operationally insoluble in nonionic detergent solution. Receptors in both the detergent-soluble and -insoluble fractions displayed similar affinities for 125I-EGF, and the values were in good agreement with those obtained for receptors in untreated membranes. The receptors in both fractions also formed identical direct linkage complexes with 125I-EGF in similar yield, providing no evidence for partitioning of different molecular species of EGF receptors in the detergent-soluble membrane fraction of Sepharose 6-B revealed heterogeneity of 125I-EGF binding activity; the smallest and most monodisperse peak of activity resolved by this technique was eluted at a Strokes radius of 95 A. Operationally soluble 125I-EGF binding activity also behaved heterogeneously during velocity sedimentation; more than half the activity sedimented more rapidly than the apparently monidisperse, 7S form. An average of less than half the nonionic detergent-solubilized activity recovered from 10 independent membrane preparations behaved as an apparently monodisperse entity. Since a maximum of 60% of 125I-EGF binding activity was operationally soluble, less than 25% of the total EGF binding activity was recovered in an apparently monodisperse form. The remaining 75% of the EGF receptors displayed a marked tendency to exist as aggregates in nonionic detergent solutions.

Lipid composition and microviscosity of subcellular fractions from rabbit thymocytes. Differences in the microviscosity of plasma membranes from subclasses of thymocytes

There are indications from freeze-fracture experiments that subclasses of rabbit thymocytes show different mobilities of plasma membrane components. Consequently, one would expect differences in the fluidity of the plasma membrane. For this reason, rabbit thymocytes were separated on a Ficoll/Metrizoate gradient yielding three subclasses representing various levels of cell differentiation. These thymocyte subclasses did not show any significant differences in the degree of fluorescence polarization using the probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. The fluorescence polarization of the plasma membrane may be overshadowed by the contribution of all cellular lipids due to penetration of the fluorescent probe into the cell. Therefore, plasma membranes were isolated from rabbit thymocytes using a cell-disrupting pump, differential centrifugation, and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. As shown by biochemical and electron microscopical analyses, plasma membranes with a high degree of purity were obtained. As expected the plasma membrane fractions showed a higher microviscosity than the other subcellular fractions. This was attributed to a higher cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratio and a higher degree of saturation of phospholipid fatty acid chains. Subsequently, the microviscosity was measured of plasma membrane preparations obtained from two main subclasses of thymocytes representing mature and immature lymphocytes. The immature thymocytes yielded two plasma membrane fractions with higher microviscosity than the mature cells. These finding is in line with earlier observed differences in the glycerol-induced clustering of intramembranous particles. Furthermore, the results of this study support the view that the fluorescence polarization technique applied to whole cells does not exclusively monitor the plasma membrane.