Physiology, Metabolism, and Fossilization of Hot-Spring Filamentous Microbial Mats

The evolutionarily ancient Aquificales bacterium Sulfurihydrogenibium spp. dominates filamentous microbial mat communities in shallow, fast-flowing, and dysoxic hot-spring drainage systems around the world. In the present study, field observations of these fettuccini-like microbial mats at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park are integrated with geology, geochemistry, hydrology, microscopy, and multi-omic molecular biology analyses. Strategic sampling of living filamentous mats along with the hot-spring CaCO3 (travertine) in which they are actively being entombed and fossilized has permitted the first direct linkage of Sulfurihydrogenibium spp. physiology and metabolism with the formation of distinct travertine streamer microbial biomarkers. Results indicate that, during chemoautotrophy and CO2 carbon fixation, the 87-98% Sulfurihydrogenibium-dominated mats utilize chaperons to facilitate enzyme stability and function. High-abundance transcripts and proteins for type IV pili and extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) are consistent with their strong mucus-rich filaments tens of centimeters long that withstand hydrodynamic shear as they become encrusted by more than 5 mm of travertine per day. Their primary energy source is the oxidation of reduced sulfur (e.g., sulfide, sulfur, or thiosulfate) and the simultaneous uptake of extremely low concentrations of dissolved O2 facilitated by bd-type cytochromes. The formation of elevated travertine ridges permits the Sulfurihydrogenibium-dominated mats to create a shallow platform from which to access low levels of dissolved oxygen at the virtual exclusion of other microorganisms. These ridged travertine streamer microbial biomarkers are well preserved and create a robust fossil record of microbial physiological and metabolic activities in modern and ancient hot-spring ecosystems.

Glyphosate's impact on vegetative growth in leafy spurge identifies molecular processes and hormone cross-talk associated with increased branching

BACKGROUND

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) is a perennial weed that is considered glyphosate tolerant, which is partially attributed to escape through establishment of new vegetative shoots from an abundance of underground adventitious buds. Leafy spurge plants treated with sub-lethal concentrations of foliar-applied glyphosate produce new vegetative shoots with reduced main stem elongation and increased branching. Processes associated with the glyphosate-induced phenotype were determined by RNAseq using aerial shoots derived from crown buds of glyphosate-treated and -untreated plants. Comparison between transcript abundance and accumulation of shikimate or phytohormones (abscisic acid, auxin, cytokinins, and gibberellins) from these same samples was also done to reveal correlations.

RESULTS

Transcriptome assembly and analyses confirmed differential abundance among 12,918 transcripts (FDR ≤ 0.05) and highlighted numerous processes associated with shoot apical meristem maintenance and stem growth, which is consistent with the increased number of actively growing meristems in response to glyphosate. Foliar applied glyphosate increased shikimate abundance in crown buds prior to decapitation of aboveground shoots, which induces growth from these buds, indicating that 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate (EPSPS) the target site of glyphosate was inhibited. However, abundance of shikimate was similar in a subsequent generation of aerial shoots derived from crown buds of treated and untreated plants, suggesting EPSPS is no longer inhibited or abundance of shikimate initially observed in crown buds dissipated over time. Overall, auxins, gibberellins (precursors and catabolites of bioactive gibberellins), and cytokinins (precursors and bioactive cytokinins) were more abundant in the aboveground shoots derived from glyphosate-treated plants.

CONCLUSION

Based on the overall data, we propose that the glyphosate-induced phenotype resulted from complex interactions involving shoot apical meristem maintenance, hormone biosynthesis and signaling (auxin, cytokinins, gibberellins, and strigolactones), cellular transport, and detoxification mechanisms.

Glyphosate's impact on vegetative growth in leafy spurge identifies molecular processes and hormone cross-talk associated with increased branching

BACKGROUND

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) is a perennial weed that is considered glyphosate tolerant, which is partially attributed to escape through establishment of new vegetative shoots from an abundance of underground adventitious buds. Leafy spurge plants treated with sub-lethal concentrations of foliar-applied glyphosate produce new vegetative shoots with reduced main stem elongation and increased branching. Processes associated with the glyphosate-induced phenotype were determined by RNAseq using aerial shoots derived from crown buds of glyphosate-treated and -untreated plants. Comparison between transcript abundance and accumulation of shikimate or phytohormones (abscisic acid, auxin, cytokinins, and gibberellins) from these same samples was also done to reveal correlations.

RESULTS

Transcriptome assembly and analyses confirmed differential abundance among 12,918 transcripts (FDR ≤ 0.05) and highlighted numerous processes associated with shoot apical meristem maintenance and stem growth, which is consistent with the increased number of actively growing meristems in response to glyphosate. Foliar applied glyphosate increased shikimate abundance in crown buds prior to decapitation of aboveground shoots, which induces growth from these buds, indicating that 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate (EPSPS) the target site of glyphosate was inhibited. However, abundance of shikimate was similar in a subsequent generation of aerial shoots derived from crown buds of treated and untreated plants, suggesting EPSPS is no longer inhibited or abundance of shikimate initially observed in crown buds dissipated over time. Overall, auxins, gibberellins (precursors and catabolites of bioactive gibberellins), and cytokinins (precursors and bioactive cytokinins) were more abundant in the aboveground shoots derived from glyphosate-treated plants.

CONCLUSION

Based on the overall data, we propose that the glyphosate-induced phenotype resulted from complex interactions involving shoot apical meristem maintenance, hormone biosynthesis and signaling (auxin, cytokinins, gibberellins, and strigolactones), cellular transport, and detoxification mechanisms.

Application of proteases to the identification of chiral modifications in synthetic peptides

Racemization of amino acids during solid-phase synthesis of peptides leads to the formation of side products that are chirally modified peptides. The chiral specificity of enzymes can be exploited to identify the sites of the modifications in these impurities. One such impurity, designated X5, was isolated from the target peptide, Fel-1, and demonstrated to be an optical isomer of Fel-1 by N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry. A chymotryptic digest was done on the isolated X5 and Fel-1. The fragments were separated on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Mass spectral data on the fragment from X5, with a different retention time from the analogous fragment of Fel-1, suggested that the modification was in the N-terminal portion of the peptide. Enzymatic digestion by Asp-N protease followed by HPLC of the fragments and mass spectral analysis provided evidence that an aspartic acid at position 5 was a D-amino acid in X5, because that position was not cleaved. These results contributed to the identification of X5 as an optical isomer of Fel-1, with a D-aspartic acid replacing an L-aspartic acid normally present at position 5.

Enhanced immunoreactivity and preferential heterodimer formation of reassociated Fel d I recombinant chains

In this study we have addressed the question of whether reassociating the two recombinant protein chains that comprise the major cat dander allergen, Fel d I, would change the overall IgE and allergic patient T cell immunoreactivity compared to the native molecule. To accomplish this, the chains were combined under reducing and denaturing conditions, then allowed to reassociate by dilution and extensive dialysis against a physiological buffer. An initial examination of the reaction products using quantitative capture ELISA demonstrated comparable reactivity to Fel d I. Further analysis, using a pool of cat allergic patient plasma, showed that the products of the reassociation reaction (rFel d I) also possessed an enhanced IgE binding capacity. Depletion ELISA results gave only a 5% difference in reactivity between rFel d I and the native protein versus a 20% difference with the mixture of the two chains. Comparative secondary T cell stimulation assays were subsequently performed using cat allergic patient peripheral blood lymphocytes. Here the results demonstrated no loss of reactivity with the reassociated chains as compared to Fel d I or the two mixed recombinant chains. To biochemically characterize the products of the reassociation reaction we have performed reverse phase HPLC and then analysed the isolated fractions by mass spectrometry. It was clear from these results that like the native Fel d I, the products of the reassociation reaction favored heterodimer formation, with no homodimer being detected. This implies that the reassociated protein chains had preferentially adopted a native-like conformation.

Peripheral T-cell tolerance induced in naive and primed mice by subcutaneous injection of peptides from the major cat allergen Fel d I

T cells control the majority of antigen-specific immune responses. Therefore, influencing the activation of the T-cell response in order to modify immune responsiveness is an obvious therapeutic goal. We have used a mouse model of response to Fel d I, the major cat protein allergen in humans, to explore the ability of peptides derived from Fel d I to inhibit T-cell-dependent immune responses to the peptides themselves and to larger polypeptides. T cells from B6CBAF1 mice respond to the Fel d I peptide IPC-2 after challenge with IPC-2. However, subcutaneous tolerization with IPC-2 prevents this response as measured by production of interleukins 2 and 4 and interferon gamma. Fel d I immunization of B6D2F1 mice results in T-cell responses primarily to one peptide derived from Fel d I. Injecting this peptide in soluble form inhibits T-cell activation (as measured by interleukin 2 production) and antibody production in Fel d I-primed animals when they are subsequently challenged with peptide in adjuvant. Most of the cat-allergic human T-cell response to Fel d I is specific for two peptides on one of its two chains. Immunization of B6CBAF1 mice with recombinant Fel d I chain 1 results in T-cell responses to the same peptides. Subcutaneous administration of these two peptides, which contain some, but not all, of the T-cell epitopes from Fel d I chain I, decreases the T-cell response to the entire recombinant Fel d I chain 1. The ability to tolerize T-cell responses with subcutaneous injections suggests a practical approach to treating human diseases with peptides containing T-cell epitopes.

Immunoaffinity chromatography of recombinant Amb a I in the presence of a denaturing agent

Recombinant proteins expressed in E. coli are often sequestered into inclusion bodies and require the use of denaturing agents in order to solubilize them. The recombinant form of Amb a I, the major allergen from short ragweed pollen, is one such protein. In some cases solubility can be maintained after the removal of the denaturing agent, particularly if the protein can be folded into its native conformation. However, not all proteins refold readily and after the removal of the denaturing agent the proteins will reaggregate and/or precipitate. In the case of Amb a I, the recombinant protein stays in solution at low concentrations but aggregates with itself and other proteins. The recombinant Amb a I is not expressed at high levels and may be toxic to E. coli. Therefore, isolation from a complex mixture of E. coli proteins was necessary. Monoclonal antibodies which recognize the denatured form of Amb a I were available, allowing for immunoaffinity purification. However, because the protein was not monomeric, this chromatographic technique did not provide an improvement in the purity level when run in normal buffer solutions. Analysis of one monoclonal antibody's stability to urea indicated it could tolerate the presence of 2 M urea and recover full activity. Use of this antibody as an immunoaffinity reagent in a column run in 2 M urea, which minimized aggregation of the E. coli produced proteins, gave a high degree of purification of recombinant Amb a I in one step. This illustrates the potential for the use of denaturing and other solubilizing agents in immunoaffinity chromatography of recombinant proteins.

Multiple Amb a I allergens demonstrate specific reactivity with IgE and T cells from ragweed-allergic patients

The relationship between the structure and abundance of an inhaled protein and its potential for causing an allergic response is unknown. This study analyzes Amb a I, a family of related proteins formerly known as Ag E, that comprise the major allergens of short ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). T cells isolated from ragweed allergic patients were shown to proliferate in response to purified Amb a I.1 protein from pollen in in vitro secondary cultures, demonstrating the presence of T cell stimulatory epitopes in Amb a I.1. Three recombinant forms of Amb a I (Amb a I.1, Amb a I.2, and Amb a I.3) obtained as cDNA derived from pollen mRNA were expressed in bacteria. All three recombinant forms were shown to be specifically recognized by pooled ragweed-allergic human IgE on immunoblots, confirming these gene products are important allergens. An examination of immunoblots probed with sera derived from allergic patients revealed a variation in IgE binding specificity. A minority of patients' IgE exclusively reacted with recombinant Amb a I.1, whereas most patients' IgE reacted with Amb a I.1 as well as Amb a I.2 and Amb a I.3 proteins. A detailed examination of the reactivity of T cells derived from 12 allergic patients to these recombinant Amb a I forms revealed that these allergens are all capable of stimulating T cell proliferation in in vitro assays. It is concluded that the allergic response to ragweed pollen in most allergic patients is composed of a reaction to multiple related Amb a I proteins at both the B and T cell levels.

Multiple Amb a I allergens demonstrate specific reactivity with IgE and T cells from ragweed-allergic patients

The relationship between the structure and abundance of an inhaled protein and its potential for causing an allergic response is unknown. This study analyzes Amb a I, a family of related proteins formerly known as Ag E, that comprise the major allergens of short ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). T cells isolated from ragweed allergic patients were shown to proliferate in response to purified Amb a I.1 protein from pollen in in vitro secondary cultures, demonstrating the presence of T cell stimulatory epitopes in Amb a I.1. Three recombinant forms of Amb a I (Amb a I.1, Amb a I.2, and Amb a I.3) obtained as cDNA derived from pollen mRNA were expressed in bacteria. All three recombinant forms were shown to be specifically recognized by pooled ragweed-allergic human IgE on immunoblots, confirming these gene products are important allergens. An examination of immunoblots probed with sera derived from allergic patients revealed a variation in IgE binding specificity. A minority of patients' IgE exclusively reacted with recombinant Amb a I.1, whereas most patients' IgE reacted with Amb a I.1 as well as Amb a I.2 and Amb a I.3 proteins. A detailed examination of the reactivity of T cells derived from 12 allergic patients to these recombinant Amb a I forms revealed that these allergens are all capable of stimulating T cell proliferation in in vitro assays. It is concluded that the allergic response to ragweed pollen in most allergic patients is composed of a reaction to multiple related Amb a I proteins at both the B and T cell levels.

Interactions of the A1 heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein and its proteolytic derivative, UP1, with RNA and DNA: evidence for multiple RNA binding domains and salt-dependent binding mode transitions

The 319-residue A1 heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein is the best studied of the group of major or core mammalian hnRNP proteins that bind pre-mRNA immediately following transcription. Circular dichroism studies suggest that binding of A1 and its proteolytic fragment, UP1 (residues 1-195), to nucleic acids results in an unstacking of the bases of poly(A). On the basis of poly[d(A-T)] and poly[r(A-U)] melting studies, both A1 and UP1 are helix-destabilizing proteins. Titrations of A1 and UP1 with poly(A), poly(U), and poly[d(T)] suggest that these two proteins do not bind with significant base specificity. A previous study indicated that A1, which contains a glycine-rich COOH terminus (residues 196-319) not present in UP1, binds cooperatively to polynucleotides while UP1 does not [Cobianchi et al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 1063-1071]. Here we confirm this latter finding and demonstrate that the cooperativity parameter for A1 binding, which has a value of about 35 for binding to both single-stranded RNA and DNA, is insensitive to the NaCl concentration at least up to 0.4 M. In contrast to the cooperativity parameter, the occluded site size for A1 binding to RNA is salt dependent and increases from about 14 to 28 upon increasing the NaCl concentration from 25 to 250 mM. This variation in site size is best explained by assuming that A1 can interact with nucleic acids via at least two different binding modes. Both A1 and UP1 have higher affinity for single-stranded as opposed to double-stranded nucleic acids and bind preferentially to single-stranded RNA as compared to DNA. Comparative studies on the binding of A1 versus UP1 to poly[r(epsilon A)] demonstrate that in addition to cooperative protein/protein interactions, the glycine-rich COOH-terminal domain of A1 is also directly involved in protein/nucleic acid interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Single-stranded DNA binding proteins (SSBs) from prokaryotic transmissible plasmids

The DNA and protein sequences of single-stranded DNA binding proteins (SSBs) encoded by the plP71a, plP231a, and R64 conjugative plasmids have been determined and compared to Escherichia coli SSB and the SSB encoded by F-plasmid. Although the amino acid sequences of all of these proteins are highly conserved within the NH2-terminal two-thirds of the protein, they diverge in the COOH-terminal third region. A number of amino acid residues which have previously been implicated as being either directly or indirectly involved in DNA binding are conserved in all of these SSBs. These residues include Trp-40, Trp-54, Trp-88, His-55, and Phe-60. On the basis of these sequence comparisons and DNA binding studies, a role for Tyr-70 in DNA binding is suggested for the first time. Although the COOH-terminal third of these proteins diverges more than their NH2-terminal regions, the COOH-terminal five amino acid residues of all five of these proteins are identical. In addition, all of these proteins share the characteristic property of having a protease resistant, NH2-terminal core and an acidic COOH-terminal region. Despite the high degree of sequence homology among the plasmid SSB proteins, the F-plasmid SSB appears unique in that it was the only SSB tested that neither bound well to poly(dA) nor was able to stimulate DNA polymerase III holoenzyme elongation rates. Poly [d(A-T)] melting studies suggest that at least three of the plasmid encoded SSBs are better helix-destabilizing proteins than is the E. coli SSB protein.

Purification and functional characterization of adenovirus ts111A DNA-binding protein. Fluorescence studies of protein-nucleic acid binding

The adenovirus single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding protein (DBP) is necessary for the elongation step in viral DNA replication. In an attempt to characterize the putative ssDNA-binding domain of the DBP, we purified and characterized the Ad2ts111A DBP, which contains a glycine-to-valine substitution at amino acid 280. This mutation is adjacent to that in the previously studied Ad2+ND1ts23. Ad2+ND1ts23 exhibits a temperature-sensitive defect in DNA replication, and its DBP has previously been shown to bind ssDNA with reduced affinity. Ad2ts111A DBP, like Ad2+ND1ts23, does not support adenovirus DNA replication in vitro at elevated temperatures. However, the Ad2ts111A DBP binds ssDNA more tightly than does Ad2+ND1ts23 and is not temperature sensitive in this function. To determine the nucleic acid-binding properties of DBP, we applied spectrofluorometric techniques, which had not been used previously to study adenovirus DBP. Using the homopolynucleotide poly(1,N6)-ethenoadenylic acid (poly(r epsilon A], we have determined that the binding site size is approximately 16 nucleotides. In 20 mM NaCl, the Ad2wt, Ad2ts111A, and Ad2+ND1ts23 DBP proteins all bound stoichiometrically to poly(r epsilon A) with overall apparent affinities above 108 M-1. Based on titrations carried out at higher salt concentrations, however, the stability of these complexes did appear to increase in the order Ad2+ND1ts23 less than Ad2ts111A less than Ad2wt. By these techniques, we have confirmed also that the DBP of another temperature-sensitive mutant, H5ts107, like the Ad2ts111A DBP, retains its ability to bind ssDNA even at a restrictive temperature utilizing the salt concentration compatible with adenovirus DNA replication in vitro. The H5ts107 DBP, which contains an amino acid substitution at position 413, is defective for in vitro replication at nonpermissive temperature but is not temperature sensitive for binding to ssDNA. In summary, our results indicate that the replication defects of the Ad2ts111A are similar to those of H5ts107 and cannot be attributed to defective, nonspecific ssDNA binding by the DBP. It appears that ssDNA binding by itself is not sufficient to account for the role of DBP in adenovirus DNA replication.

Site-specific mutagenesis of T4 gene 32: the role of tyrosine residues in protein-nucleic acid interactions

Bacteriophage T4 gene 32 encodes a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein (gp32) required for T4 DNA replication, recombination, and repair. Previous physicochemical studies on gp32 and other ssDNA binding proteins have suggested that binding may involve hydrophobic interactions that result from the close approach of several aromatic amino acid side chains with the nucleic acid bases. In the case of gp32, five tyrosines and two phenylalanines have previously been implicated in gp32.ssDNA complex formation. Site-directed mutagenesis of T4 gene 32 was employed to produce a set of eight gp32 mutant proteins, each of which encoded a single substitution at one of the eight tyrosine residues within gp32. The mutant gp32 proteins were then subjected to physicochemical analysis to evaluate the role of each tyrosine residue in gp32 structure and function. Oligonucleotide binding studies suggest that tyrosine residues 84, 99, 106, 115, and 186 each contribute from 0.3 to 0.7 kcal/mol to ssDNA binding, which corresponds to 3-7% of the overall binding energy for gp32.ssDNA complex formation. Replacement of tyrosine residues 73 and 92 appears to lead to large structural changes that may be the result of disrupting the zinc binding subdomain within gp32.

Thermal denaturation of T4 gene 32 protein: effects of zinc removal and substitution

Gene 32 protein (g32P), the single-stranded (ss) DNA binding protein from bacteriophage T4, is a zinc metalloprotein. The intrinsic zinc is one of the factors required for the protein to bind cooperatively to a ssDNA lattice. We have used differential scanning calorimetry to determine how the thermodynamic parameters characterizing the denaturation of g32P are affected by removal or substitution of the intrinsic zinc. Over a wide concentration range (1-10 mg/mL), the native Zn(II) protein unfolds at a tm of 55 degrees C with an associated mean enthalpy change of 139 kcal mol-1. Under the same conditions, the metal-free apoprotein denatures over a relatively broader temperature range centered at 49 degrees C, with a mean enthalpy change of 84 kcal mol-1. Substitution of Zn(II) in g32P by either Cd(II) or Co(II) does not significantly change the enthalpy of denaturation but does affect the thermal stability of the protein. All metallo forms of g32P when bound to poly(dT) undergo highly cooperative denaturational transitions characterized by asymmetric differential scanning calorimetry peaks with increases in tm of 4-5 degrees C compared to the unliganded metalloprotein. Removal of the metal ion from g32P significantly reduces the cooperativity of binding to poly(dT) [Giedroc, D. P., Keating, K. M., Williams, K. R., & Coleman, J. E. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 5251-5259], and presumably as a consequence of this, apo-g32P shows no change in either the shape or the midpoint of the thermal transition on binding to poly(dT).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Glucocorticoid effects on lipid lateral diffusion and membrane composition in lipopolysaccharide-activated B-cell leukemia 1 cells

We have investigated the effects of glucocorticoid treatment on lipid lateral diffusion and cholesterol:phospholipid ratios in the plasma membranes of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-responsive murine B-cell leukemia (BCL1). Exposure to LPS for 24 h at concentrations of 50 micrograms/ml, 100 micrograms/ml, and 250 micrograms/ml caused a 42% reduction in the lateral diffusion of the lipid probe 3,3'-dioctadecylindocarbocyanine iodide as measured by fluorescence photobleaching recovery techniques at 37 degrees C. In cells incubated with 50 micrograms/ml LPS, 3,3'-dioctadecylindocarbocyanine iodide diffusion is reduced to 2.2 x 10(-9) cm2s-1 compared to freshly isolated BCL1 cells where 3,3'-dioctadecylindocarbocyanine iodide diffused at a rate of 3.8 x 10(-9) cm2s-1. In BCL1 cells activated by LPS for 24 h and recultured with a pharmacological concentration of the synthetic glucocorticoid triamcinolone acetonide (TA, 10(-6) M) for 6 h, lipid lateral diffusion increased to 3.5 x 10(-9) cm2s-1. Concentrations of TA lower than 10(-6) M had no effect on lipid lateral diffusion. Six-h treatment with 10(-6) M TA had no effect on freshly isolated BCL1 cells (Time 0). However, lipid lateral diffusion increased in cells incubated 24, 48, and 72 h with LPS, and an additional 6 h with 10(-5) M TA suggested that activated BCL1 cells were more glucocorticoid sensitive than cells at Time 0. Plasma membrane cholesterol and phospholipid content, analyzed at 0 and 24 h, indicated that LPS activation was associated with a 7% increase in the cholesterol:phospholipid ratio in BCL1 membranes and that glucocorticoid treatment of these LPS-activated cells for 6 h decreased the membrane cholesterol:phospholipid ratio perhaps through inhibition of de novo cholesterol synthesis.

The function of zinc in gene 32 protein from T4

Gene 32 protein (g32P), the single-stranded DNA binding protein from bacteriophage T4, contains 1 mol of Zn(II) bound in a tetrahedral complex to -S- ligands, proposed on spectral evidence to include Cys-77, Cys-87, and Cys-90 [Giedroc, D. P., Keating, K. M., Williams, K. R., Konigsberg, W. H., & Coleman, J. E. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 8452]. The Zn(II) can be completely removed by treatment with the mercurial reagent p-(hydroxymercuri)benzenesulfonate and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The resultant apo-g32P is rapidly digested by trypsin in contrast to the zinc protein which undergoes specific limited proteolysis to yield a resistant DNA-binding core. Rebinding of Zn(II) to the apoprotein restores the same limited susceptibility to proteolysis displayed by the native Zn(II) protein. In the presence of 150 mM NaCl, Zn(II) g32P reduces the melting temperature Tm of poly[d(A-T)] by 47 degrees C, while apo-g32P is unable to melt poly[d(A-T)] at this salt concentration, as the protein thermally unfolds before melting can take place. At 25 mM NaCl, however, apo-g32P lowers the Tm of poly[d(A-T)] by 36 degrees C, but the melting curve is broad compared to the steep cooperative melting induced by Zn(II) g32P. Association constants Ka calculated from the poly[d(A-T)] melting curves for Zn(II) and apo-g32P differ by 3 orders of magnitude, 4.8 X 10(10) M-1 and 4.3 X 10(7) M-1, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gene 32 protein, the single-stranded DNA binding protein from bacteriophage T4, is a zinc metalloprotein

Gene 32 protein (g32P) isolated from bacteriophage T4-infected Escherichia coli and from an overproduction vector derived from the plasmid pKC30 contains 1 mol of tightly incorporated Zn(II) per mol of protein. A linear incorporation of three molar equivalents of p-hydroxymercuriphenylsulfonate (PMPS) results in a linear release of 1.1 mol of Zn(II) from the protein. Reversal of formation of the g32P-PMPS complex with thiol in the presence of EDTA results in a zinc-free apo-g32P. Cd(II) and Co(II) can be exchanged with the intrinsic Zn(II) ion. The Cd(II) protein shows a charge-transfer band at approximately 250 nm. The Co(II) protein shows a set of absorption bands typical of a tetrahedral Co(II) complex (epsilon max = 660 M-1 X cm-1 at 645 nm), and two intense charge-transfer bands are present at 355 nm (epsilon = 2,250 M-1 X cm-1) and 320 nm (epsilon = 3,175 M-1 X cm-1). These observations are consistent with three cysteines as ligands to the Zn(II) ion in g32P. Zn(II) g32P undergoes precise limited proteolysis by trypsin to produce the small fragments A and B and the core, g32P-(A + B). Under identical conditions, apo-g32P is hydrolyzed rapidly beyond the g32P-(A + B) stage to produce many proteolyzed fragments. Fluorescence quenching experiments show that at low protein concentration apo-g32P has markedly altered binding affinity for poly(dT) relative to native g32P. Three of the four cysteines of g32P are found in a tyrosine-rich sequence corresponding to residues 72-116 and implicated in DNA binding by 1H NMR investigations. Zn(II) appears to provide a conformational element contributing to DNA binding by coordinating the cysteine and possibly histidine side chains in the sequence -Cys-X3-His-X5-Cys-X2-Cys-, residues 77-90, located in the DNA binding domain of g32P.

Zinc metalloproteins involved in replication and transcription

RNA polymerase (RPase) from E. coli contains two tightly incorporated Zn(II) ions, while the monomeric RPase from bacteriophage T7 does not contain zinc and does not require Zn(II) in the assay. One of the two Zn(II) ions can be differentially removed from E. coli RPase with p-hydroxymercuriphenylsulfonate (PMPS) combined with EDTA and thiol. The resultant Znl or ZnA RPase shows no alteration in transcription initiation and elongation rate from sigma-specific promoters. Biosynthesis of a Co2 RPase and formation of CoA RPase by similar treatment shows the tetrahedral-type Co(II) d-d absorption bands to be associated only with the Co(II) at the A site with maxima at 760 (epsilon = 800), 710 (epsilon = 900), 602 (epsilon = 1500), and 484 (epsilon = 4000) nm. Sulfur to Co(II) charge transfer bands are present at 350 (epsilon = 9600) and 370 (epsilon = 9500) nm. The absorption characteristics strongly suggest that the A site is a tetrathiolate site. While DNA polymerases do not in general appear to contain zinc, gene 32 protein (g32P) from bacteriophage T4, an accessory protein essential for DNA replication and recombination and translational control in the T4 life cycle, is a Zn(II) metalloprotein and contains 1 gram atom of tightly incorporated Zn(II). PMPS displaces the zinc by reacting with three SH groups. Apo-g32P shows markedly altered DNA binding properties. Co(II) substitution gives a protein with intense d-d transitions typical of a tetrahedral Co(II) complex with absorption maxima at 680 (epsilon = 480), 645 (epsilon = 660), 605 (epsilon = 430), 355 (epsilon = 2250), and 320 (epsilon = 3175) nm. The data support a 3 Cys, 1 His coordination site located in the middle of the DNA binding domain of g32P. Data thus far suggest that the Zn(II) binding sites in multisubunit RNA polymerases and in accessory proteins involved in polynucleotide biosynthesis are more likely to play structural or allosteric (regulatory) roles rather than directly participating in catalysis.

Glucocorticoid effects on membrane lipid mobility during differentiation of murine B lymphocytes

The lateral motion of membrane lipids on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine B lymphocytes was measured using photobleaching recovery techniques. The mobility of the phospholipid analog 3,3'-dioctadecylindocarbocyanine iodide (DiI) was measured at 37 degrees C on B lymphocytes 48 h after stimulation by various concentrations of lipopolysaccharide. DiI mobility on lymphoblasts from cultures stimulated with 10 micrograms/ml lipopolysaccharide was reduced 50% compared with unstimulated, small B cells. However, both lower and higher lipopolysaccharide concentrations caused some decrease in lipid mobility. Lipid mobility was measured on B cells stimulated with 10 micrograms/ml lipopolysaccharide at zero time, on lymphoblasts at 18, 24, 48 and 72 h, and on immunoglobulin (Ig) -secreting lymphocytes at 96 h. The diffusion coefficient of DiI on both control and lipopolysaccharide-treated cells at zero time is 6.3 X 10(-9) cm2 X s-1. This value remains unchanged for unstimulated cells over 72 h. Lipid mobility of lipopolysaccharide-activated lymphoblasts decreased during incubation with lipopolysaccharide to 5.0, 3.4, 2.8 and 2.4 X 10(-9) cm2 X s-1 after 18, 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. DiI mobility on immunoglobulin (Ig) -secreting lymphocytes identified at the foci of Protein A-coated sheep red blood cells plaques is 8.6 X 10(-9) cm2 X s-1, a value similar to that of unstimulated B cells. The effect of introducing various concentrations of a synthetic glucocorticoid, triamcinolone acetonide (TA), to 48 h lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cells for 6 h was examined. Maximal TA effect was observed at a concentration of 10(-7) M, which caused an increase in lipid mobility to 7.5 X 10(-9) cm2 X s-1. Exposing resting B cells (t = 0) or lymphoblasts (t = 24, 48 or 72 h) to TA for 3 h had no effect on lipid mobility. Treatment for 6 h with 10(-7) MTA increased DiI diffusion to 12.6, 9.9, 7.5 and 6.8 X 10(-9) cm2 X s-1 on control cells and on 24, 48 and 72 h lipopolysaccharide-activated lymphoblasts, respectively. A longer incubation of 12 h with 10(-7) MTA caused no further change in lipid lateral diffusion. The response was glucocorticoid-specific. In lymphoblasts (48 h) incubated an additional 6 h with 10(-7) MTA and a 100-fold excess of cortexolone or progesterone, the increase in lipid mobility was substantively blocked; estradiol and testosterone had no effect on lipid lateral diffusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Osseous reactions to bimetallic couples composed of amalgam and gold implanted in rat tibias

Small, bimetallic couples were manufactured by condensing dental amalgam against a gold post which has been placed in polyethylene tubing. These devices were placed in rat tibias and osseous reactions were evaluated microscopically up to 112 days after surgery. The low current levels generated by the bimetallic couples used in this study did not affect the healing rate of the surgical osseous defect. Statistical analysis demonstrated that there were equal amounts of bone deposited at the anodes and cathodes of the experimental implants at all time intervals studied. The small currents produced by experimental implants did not interfere with the normal healing process, and the implications of this study in clinical situations are discussed.