Structure-Activity Relationship of 3-Methylcytidine-5'-α,β-methylenediphosphates as CD73 Inhibitors

We recently reported N4-substituted 3-methylcytidine-5'-α,β-methylenediphosphates as CD73 inhibitors, potentially useful in cancer immunotherapy. We now expand the structure-activity relationship of pyrimidine nucleotides as human CD73 inhibitors. 4-Chloro (MRS4598 16; Ki = 0.673 nM) and 4-iodo (MRS4620 18; Ki = 0.436 nM) substitution of the N4-benzyloxy group decreased Ki by ∼20-fold. Primary alkylamine derivatives coupled through a p-amido group with a varying methylene chain length (24 and 25) were functionalized congeners, for subsequent conjugation to carrier or reporter moieties. X-ray structures of hCD73 with two inhibitors indicated a ribose ring conformational adaptation, and the benzyloxyimino group (E configuration) binds to the same region (between the C-terminal and N-terminal domains) as N4-benzyl groups in adenine inhibitors. Molecular dynamics identified stabilizing interactions and predicted conformational diversity. Thus, by N4-benzyloxy substitution, we have greatly enhanced the inhibitory potency and added functionality enabling molecular probes. Their potential as anticancer drugs was confirmed by blocking CD73 activity in tumor tissues in situ.

FNC inhibits non-small cell lung cancer by activating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway

BACKGROUND

Previously, we published that 4'-azid-2'-deoxy-2'-fluorarabinoside (FNC), a novel cytosine nucleoside analog, has good anti-viral and anti-tumor activity.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to further explore the role and molecular mechanism of FNC in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

FNC was tested in the NSCLC H460 cell line, the Lewis mouse model, and the H460 cell xenograft model. The effects of FNC were assessed by cell viability, transwell migration, and wound scratch analyses of cell migration and invasion. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. Proteins expression was assessed by western blot and immunohistochemistry staining (IHC).

RESULTS

FNC inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of H460 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. FNC treatment showed efficacy and low toxicity in the Lewis mouse lung cancer model as well as in the H460 cell xenograft model. Further, FNC induced H460 cell apoptosis through the activation of the mitochondrial pathway. Notably, FNC inhibited invasion by increasing E-cadherin protein and reducing the protein expression of VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, and CD31.

CONCLUSION

FNC inhibits NSCLC by activating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and regulating the expressions of multiple proteins related to cell adhesion and invasion, highlighting its potential as an NSCLC therapeutic.

Toll like receptor 9 antagonism modulates spinal cord neuronal function and survival: Direct versus astrocyte-mediated mechanisms

Toll like receptors (TLRs) are expressed by cells of the immune system and mediate the host innate immune responses to pathogens. However, increasing evidence indicates that they are important contributors to central nervous system (CNS) function in health and in pathological conditions involving sterile inflammation. In agreement with this idea, we have previously shown that intrathecal administration of a TLR9 antagonist, cytidine-phosphate-guanosine oligodeoxynucleotide 2088 (CpG ODN 2088), ameliorates the outcomes of spinal cord injury (SCI). Although these earlier studies showed a marked effect of CpG ODN 2088 on inflammatory cells, the expression of TLR9 in spinal cord (SC) neurons and astrocytes suggested that the antagonist exerts additional effects through direct actions on these cells. The current study was undertaken to assess the direct effects of CpG ODN 2088 on SC neurons, astrocytes and astrocyte-neuron interactions, in vitro. We report, for the first time, that inhibition of TLR9 in cultured SC neurons alters their function and confers protection against kainic acid (KA)-induced excitotoxic death. Moreover, the TLR9 antagonist attenuated the KA-elicited endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response in neurons, in vitro. CpG ODN 2088 also reduced the transcript levels and release of chemokine (C-X-C) motif ligand 1 (CXCL1) and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) by astrocytes and it diminished interleukin-6 (IL-6) release without affecting transcript levels in vitro. Conditioned medium (CM) of CpG ODN 2088-treated astroglial cultures decreased the viability of SC neurons compared to CM of vehicle-treated astrocytes. However, this toxicity was not observed when astrocytes were co-cultured with neurons. Although CpG ODN 2088 limited the survival-promoting effects of astroglia, it did not reduce neuronal viability compared to controls grown in the absence of astrocytes. We conclude that the TLR9 antagonist acts directly on both SC neurons and astrocytes. Neuronal TLR9 antagonism confers protection against excitotoxic death. It is likely that this neuroprotection is partly due to the attenuation of the ER stress response provoked by excitotoxicity. Although CpG ODN 2088 limits the supportive effects of astrocytes on neurons, it could potentially exert beneficial effects by decreasing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by astroglia. These findings highlight the multiple roles of TLR9 in the SC and have implications for pathological conditions including SCI where excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation play a prominent role in neuronal degeneration.

Inhibition of the adenylyl cyclase toxin, edema factor, from Bacillus anthracis by a series of 18 mono- and bis-(M)ANT-substituted nucleoside 5'-triphosphates

Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax disease and exerts its deleterious effects by the release of three exotoxins, i.e. lethal factor, protective antigen and edema factor (EF), a highly active calmodulin-dependent adenylyl cyclase (AC). Conventional antibiotic treatment is ineffective against either toxaemia or antibiotic-resistant strains. Thus, more effective drugs for anthrax treatment are needed. Our previous studies showed that EF is differentially inhibited by various purine and pyrimidine nucleotides modified with N-methylanthraniloyl (MANT)- or anthraniloyl (ANT) groups at the 2'(3')-O-ribosyl position, with the unique preference for the base cytosine (Taha et al., Mol Pharmacol 75:693 (2009)). MANT-CTP was the most potent EF inhibitor (K (i), 100 nM) among 16 compounds studied. Here, we examined the interaction of EF with a series of 18 2',3'-O-mono- and bis-(M)ANT-substituted nucleotides, recently shown to be very potent inhibitors of the AC toxin from Bordetella pertussis, CyaA (Geduhn et al., J Pharmacol Exp Ther 336:104 (2011)). We analysed purified EF and EF mutants in radiometric AC assays and in fluorescence spectroscopy studies and conducted molecular modelling studies. Bis-MANT nucleotides inhibited EF competitively. Propyl-ANT-ATP was the most potent EF inhibitor (K (i), 80 nM). In contrast to the observations made for CyaA, introduction of a second (M)ANT-group decreased rather than increased inhibitor potency at EF. Activation of EF by calmodulin resulted in effective fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from tryptophan and tyrosine residues located in the vicinity of the catalytic site to bis-MANT-ATP, but FRET to bis-MANT-CTP was only small. Mutations N583Q, K353A and K353R differentially altered the inhibitory potencies of bis-MANT-ATP and bis-MANT-CTP. The nucleotide binding site of EF accommodates bulky bis-(M)ANT-substituted purine and pyrimidine nucleotides, but the fit is suboptimal compared to CyaA. These data provide a basis for future studies aiming at the development of potent EF inhibitors with high selectivity relative to mammalian ACs.

Production of human pancreatic ribonuclease in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli

Human pancreatic ribonuclease (HP-RNase) has considerable promise as a therapeutic agent. Structure-function analyses of HP-RNase have been impeded by the difficulty of obtaining the enzyme from its host. Here, a gene encoding HP-RNase was designed, synthesized, and inserted into two expression vectors that then direct the production of HP-RNase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (fused to either an unmodified or a modified a-factor pre-pro segment) or Escherichia coli (fused to the pelB signal sequence). HP-RNase produced in S. cerevisiae was secreted into the medium as an active enzyme, isolable at 0.1-0.2 mg/liter of culture. This isolate was heterogeneous due to extensive glycosylation and incomplete maturation of the pre-pro segment. HP-RNase produced in E. coli with the pET expression system was purified from the insoluble fraction of the cell lysate. Renaturation of the reduced and denatured protein produced active, homogeneous enzyme recoverable at 1 mg/liter of culture. The N terminus of the HP-RNase produced from the bacterial expression system was processed fully in vivo. The yeast system, combined with techniques that allow detection of picograms of ribonuclease activity, offers a sensitive probe for studies of post-translational modification and secretory targeting in eukaryotic cells. The bacterial system enables studies both to reveal new structure-function relationships in ribonucleases and to evaluate the use of HP-RNase as a cytotoxin that is tolerated by the human immune system.

Stimulation of calcium influx in HL60 cells by cholesteryl-modified homopolymer oligodeoxynucleotides

Cholesteryl-modified 15-mer homopolymers of cytidine and thymidine phosphodiester oligodeoxynucleotides (chol-OdC15 and chol-OdT15), but not chol-modified heteropolymeric oligos or chol-modified phosphorothioate oligos, were found to increase cytosolic free Ca2+ in HL60 cells. A flow cytometer and the calcium-sensitive dye indo-1 were used to make multiparameter measurements on the HL60 cells. Chol-OdC15 (5-10 microM) triggered a rapid increase (within 1 min) in [Ca2+]i, with a subsequent slow decline to baseline over 15 min in the continuous presence of agonist. The effect was preserved after unloading the intracellular Ca2+ stores with caffeine and ryanodine. The effect was not sensitive to membrane depolarization by KCl (60 mM) or nimodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist. An increase in [Ca2+]i was absent in a Ca(2+)-free solution and was inhibited by the inorganic Ca2+ channel blocker Cd2+. The results suggest that Ca2+ influx activated by the chol-oligomer is probably mediated by receptor-operated Ca2+ channels. This effect may be due to direct binding of the chol-oligo to the channel or to induced conformational changes due to modification of the local microenvironment.

Structure-activity relationships of cadeguomycin analogs

The relationship between the activity and the chemical structure of cadeguomycin (CDM, 7-carboxy-7-deazaguanosine) was studied with six analogs of CDM. Both activities of CDM, enhancing the incorporation of [3H]thymidine in K562 cells and potentiating the cytotoxicity of cytosine arabinoside for K562 cells, were significantly augmented by the replacement of the 7-carboxyl group with cyano (CDM-CN) or formyl (CDM-CHO), but they were not changed by the replacement with methyl. The activities were almost completely diminished by the replacement of ribose with arabinose, but the simultaneous replacement of carboxyl and ribose with formyl and arabinose showed higher activities than those of CDM. The replacement of 7-carboxy-7-deazaguanine with 7-carboxy-7-deazainosine markedly weakened the activity. CDM-CN and CDM-CHO at 0.2 micrograms/ml significantly potentiated the activity of cytosine arabinoside against MOLT-3 cells but CDM at 1 micrograms/ml did not. These results indicate that the ribose and guanine moieties in the CDM molecule are very important for its activity. Also replacing the carboxyl group at the C-7 position with cyano or formyl group is a useful way to strengthen the CDM activity. These compounds would effectively potentiate cytosine arabinoside against various kinds of tumor cells which CDM could not do.

[Antitumor activity of a novel analog of cytarabine, 4-amino-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinone 5'-(sodium octadecyl phosphate) monohydrate (YNK01)]

4-Amino-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinone 5'-(sodium octadecyl phosphate) monohydrate (YNK01) was an orally active depot form of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C). In the present study, antitumor activity of YNK01 was compared with it of Ara-C in vitro and in vivo. The activity of a main metabolite of YNK01, 5'-carboxypropylphosphate of Ara-C (C-C3PCA), was also studied. Growth inhibitory activity of YNK01 against various cultured tumor cells was 1/32-1/1,100 of that of Ara-C. YNK01 exhibited antitumor activity against L1210 leukemia in mice after i.v., i.p. or p.o. administration. The activity did not depend on the administration routes. Compared with Ara-C, the activity was comparable in both i.v. and i.p. administrations, but greater in p.o. administration. Oral administration of YNK01 showed similar antitumor spectrum to i.p. administration of Ara-C. Oral activity of YNK01 against L1210 leukemia did not depend on the administration schedules but depended on a total administration dose. In contrast, activity of Ara-C greatly depended on the schedules, and the frequent i.p, administration showed greatest activity. Growth inhibitory activity of C-C3PCA against cultured tumor cells was 1/2-1/7 of Ara-C. The metabolite exhibited activity against L1210 leukemia in mice after i.p. administration. These results suggest that YNK01 is a clinically useful drug with p.o. administration for cancers as well as Ara-C.

Dibutyrylcytidine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate stimulates neurite outgrowth in rat pheochromocytoma PC12

Dibutyrylcytidine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (Bt2cCMP) stimulated neurite outgrowth in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner at the dose range from 0.5 mM to 6 mM. About 25% of the cells had neurites in response to 6 mM Bt2cCMP. In contrast with the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) which increased the percentage of cells with neurites gradually during a 6-day culture period, the stimulating effect of Bt2cCMP reached a plateau 2 days after plating. Staurosporine inhibited the neurite outgrowth induced by NGF, but not that by Bt2cCMP. These results suggest that Bt2cCMP stimulates neuronal differentiation by a mechanism different from that by NGF.

On the inhibition of deoxycytidylate hydroxymethylase by 5-fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine 5'-monophosphate

Studies were performed to determine whether 5-fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine 5'-monophosphate (FdCMP) is an inhibitor of deoxycytidylate hydroxymethylase and whether it could form an isolable covalent complex with the enzyme and the cofactor, 5,10-methyl-enetetrahydrofolate. The results showed that although FdCMP is a competitive inhibitor of dCMP hydroxymethylase, it does not cause time-dependent inhibition of the enzyme in the presence of cofactor. Further, although uv difference spectral evidence was found for FdCMP-cofactor-enzyme complex, the complex was not sufficiently stable to isolate on nitrocellulose filters. We conclude that FdCMP is not a mechanism-based inhibitor of dCMP hydroxymethylase.

Inhibition of DNA synthesis of adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture by dibutyrylcytidine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate

The effect of dibutyrylcytidine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (Bt2cCMP) on DNA synthesis of adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture was examined. Bt2cCMP caused dose-dependent inhibition of the DNA syntheses stimulated by various growth factors including human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF). Dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (Bt2cAMP) inhibited the DNA synthesis more effectively than Bt2cCMP, but dibutyrylguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (Bt2cGMP) and n-butyrate had a slight or null inhibitory effect. When added at the onset of DNA synthesis, Bt2cAMP was much less effective, but Bt2cCMP was still effective. Thus Bt2cCMP is able to inhibit growth factor-stimulated hepatocyte proliferation.

Synthesis and antiviral activity of the nucleotide analogue (S)-1-[3-hydroxy-2-(phosphonylmethoxy)propyl]cytosine

The acyclic nucleotide analogue (S)-1-[3-hydroxy-2-(phosphonylmethoxy)propyl] cytosine (2, HPMPC) was prepared on a multigram scale in 18% overall yield starting from (R)-2,3-O-isopropylideneglycerol. The key step in the nine-step synthetic route is coupling of cytosine with the side-chain derivative 8 which bears a protected phosphonylmethyl ether group. In vitro data showed that HPMPC has good activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, although it was 10-fold less potent than acyclovir [AVC, 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]guanine]. By comparison, HPMPC exhibited greater activity than ACV against a thymidine kinase deficient strain of HSV 1 and was more potent than ganciclovir [DHPG, 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine] against human cytomegalovirus. In vivo, HPMPC showed exceptional potency against HSV 1 systemic infection in mice, having an ED50 of 0.1 mg/kg per day (ip) compared with 50 mg/kg per day for ACV. HPMPC was also more efficacious than ACV in the topical treatment of HSV 1 induced cutaneous lesions in guinea pigs.

Effects of ATP and CTP on the conformation of the regulatory subunit of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamylase in solution: a medium-resolution hydrogen exchange study

Medium-resolution hydrogen exchange methods have been used to examine the solvent accessibility of seven peptides in the regulatory subunit (r2) of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamylase in the presence and absence of ATP and CTP. Both nucleotides are allosteric effectors of the holoenzyme; binding of ATP increases the affinity of the holoenzyme for the substrate L-Asp, while CTP has the opposite effect. Following Rosa and Richards (1979, 1981, 1982) and Englander et al. (1983, 1985), exchange-out curves for individual peptides were generated by adjusting the pH to 2.7 to quench exchange-out, digesting the protein with pepsin, separating peptides by reverse-phase HPLC, determining their radioactivity, and correcting for radioactivity lost during the analysis. Sixteen peptides from segments 1-11 and 76-153 were identified by amino acid and N-terminal analysis. Nine fell in regions where background was too high or were present at too low concentrations for exchange to be monitored. The number of protons whose exchange could be followed in peptides 1-11, 76-91, 78-90, 84-101, 93-112, 108-114, and 115-125 ranged from approximately 1 (1-11, 108-114) to 10 (84-101) and 11 (93-112). The pattern of results obtained suggests that the structure of r2 in solution is similar to that of the regulatory subunits in crystalline ATCase. Both CTP and ATP reduce rates of exchange from all seven peptides except 115-125. Although CTP slows exchange more than ATP, the effect is small except for peptides 76-91 and 78-90 which are near the nucleotide binding site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Synthesis and biological properties of purine and pyrimidine 5'-deoxy-5'-(dihydroxyphosphinyl)-beta-D-ribofuranosyl analogues of AMP, GMP, IMP, and CMP

Methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-D-ribofuranoside (1) was converted to 1-O-acetyl-5-bromo-5-deoxy-2,3-di-O-benzoyl-D-ribofuranose (6) in five steps with good yield. The Arbuzov condensation of compound 6 with triethyl phosphite resulted in the synthesis of 1-O-acetyl-2,3-di-O-benzoyl-5-deoxy-5-(diethoxyphosphinyl)-D-ribofuranos e (7). Compound 7 was used for direct glycosylation of both purine and pyrimidine bases. The glycosylation was accomplished with the dry silylated heterocyclic base in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate. Deblocking of the glycosylation products gave exclusively the beta anomer of the 5'-phosphonate analogues of 9-[5'-deoxy-5'-(dihydroxyphosphinyl)-beta-D-ribofuranosyl]adenine (13), 9-[5'-deoxy-5'-(dihydroxyphosphinyl)-beta-D-ribofuranosyl]guanosin e (16), 9-[5'-deoxy-5'-(dihydroxyphosphinyl)-beta-D-ribofuranosyl]hypoxant hine (17), and 9-[5'-deoxy-5'-(dihydroxyphosphinyl)-beta-D-ribofuranosyl]cytosine (15), described here for the first time. The target compounds as well as their intermediates showed no in vitro antiviral or antitumor activity, although phosphorylation of 15 and 16 to di- and triphosphate analogues was demonstrated with use of isolated cellular enzymes.

Mechanism-based inhibition of a mutant Escherichia coli ribonucleotide reductase (cysteine-225----serine) by its substrate CDP

The B1 subunit of Escherichia coli ribonucleotide reductase (EC 1.17.4.1) has been overexpressed using the pT7-5/pGP1-2 system developed by Tabor and Richardson [Tabor, S. & Richardson, C. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82, 1074-1078]. This method has allowed the preparation of two mutant B1 subunits in which two of the four thiols postulated to be within the active site of the enzyme, Cys-225 and Cys-759, have been changed to serines. Incubation of the [Ser225]B1 mutant with the B2 subunit, [U-14C]CDP, and the allosteric effector ATP results in production of cytosine, destruction of the tyrosyl radical in B2, radiolabeling of the protein, and cleavage of the B1 subunit into two pieces of 26 and 61.5 kDa. This process is independent of the identity of reductant. The [Ser759]B1 mutant reduces CDP in the presence of thioredoxin/thioredoxin reductase at 7.7% the rate of wild-type B1. When dithiothreitol is utilized as reductant, however, the rate of CDP reduction with [Ser759]B1 is identical to that observed with wild type.

Cooperative binding of the bisubstrate analog N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate to aspartate transcarbamoylase and the heterotropic effects of ATP and CTP

Most investigations of the allosteric properties of the regulatory enzyme aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) from Escherichia coli are based on the sigmoidal dependence of enzyme activity on substrate concentration and the effects of the inhibitor, CTP, and the activator, ATP, on the saturation curves. Interpretations of these effects in terms of molecular models are complicated by the inability to distinguish between changes in substrate binding and catalytic turnover accompanying the allosteric transition. In an effort to eliminate this ambiguity, the binding of the 3H-labeled bisubstrate analog N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate (PALA) to aspartate transcarbamoylase in the absence and presence of the allosteric effectors ATP and CTP has been measured directly by equilibrium dialysis at pH 7 in phosphate buffer. PALA binds with marked cooperativity to the holoenzyme with an average dissociation constant of 110 nM. ATP and CTP alter both the average affinity of ATCase for PALA and the degree of cooperativity in the binding process in a manner analogous to their effects on the kinetic properties of the enzyme; the average dissociation constant of PALA decreases to 65 nM in the presence of ATP and increases to 266 nM in the presence of CTP while the Hill coefficient, which is 1.95 in the absence of effectors, becomes 1.35 and 2.27 in the presence of ATP and CTP, respectively. The isolated catalytic subunit of ATCase, which lacks the cooperative kinetic properties of the holoenzyme, exhibits only a very slight degree of cooperativity in binding PALA. The dissociation constant of PALA from the catalytic subunit is 95 nM. Interpretation of these results in terms of a thermodynamic scheme linking PALA binding to the assembly of ATCase from catalytic and regulatory subunits demonstrates that saturation of the enzyme with PALA shifts the equilibrium between holoenzyme and subunits slightly toward dissociation. Ligation of the regulatory subunits by either of the allosteric effectors leads to a change in the effect of PALA on the association-dissociation equilibrium.

Cyclopentenylcytosine triphosphate. Formation and inhibition of CTP synthetase

Cyclopentenylcytosine (CPEC) is phosphorylated in L1210 cells with CPEC triphosphate as the major metabolite. Partially purified uridine-cytidine kinase catalyzes the initial phosphorylation of cyclopentenylcytosine with an apparent Km of 196 +/- 9 microM, and cyclopentenylcytosine is a competitive inhibitor of cytidine phosphorylation by this enzyme with a Ki value of 144 +/- 14 microM. Examination of the CTP synthetase activity in extracts of L1210 cells revealed a dose-dependent decrease on exposure of cells to CPEC. Synthesis of CPEC triphosphate by an enzymatic method permitted direct examination of the inhibition of partially purified CTP synthetase. CPEC triphosphate inhibited bovine CTP synthetase with a median inhibitory concentration of 6 microM, whereas CPEC mono- and diphosphates were ineffective. CTP synthetase showed a classical Michaelis-Menten hyperbolic plot of velocity and UTP concentration in the presence of saturating concentrations of ATP and glutamine, but CPEC triphosphate induced sigmoidal kinetic plots. The Hill coefficient was calculated to be 3.2.

In vitro synthesis of colominic acid by membrane-bound sialyltransferase of Escherichia coli K-235. Kinetic properties of this enzyme and inhibition by CMP and other cytidine nucleotides

The membrane-bound sialyltransferase obtained from Escherichia coli K-235 grown in a chemically defined medium (ideal for colominic acid production) was studied. The in vivo half-life calculated for this enzyme was 20 h. Kinetic tests revealed (at 33 degrees C and pH 8.3) hyperbolic behaviour with respect to CMP-Neu5Ac (Km250 microM) and a transition temperature at 31.3 degrees C. The enzyme was inhibited by NH4+, some divalent cations and by several agents that react with thiol groups. Detergents and fatty acids also inhibited the sialyltransferase activity. In vitro synthesis of colominic acid is strongly inhibited by CMP by blocking the incorporation of [14C]Neu5Ac into a protein-complex intermediate and therefore into free polymer. CDP and CTP also inhibited (91% and 84%) this enzyme activity whereas cytosine and cytidine had no effect. CMP inhibition corresponded to a competitive model the calculated Ki was 30 microM. Incubations of protein[14C]Neu5Ac with CMP, CDP and CTP led to de novo synthesis of CMP-[14C]Neu5Ac. The presence of colominic acid, which usually displaces the reaction equilibrium towards polymer synthesis, did not affect this de novo CMP-[14C]Neu5Ac formation. CMP also inhibited in vivo colominic acid biosynthesis.

In the presence of CTP, UTP becomes an allosteric inhibitor of aspartate transcarbamoylase

The allosteric control of aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase, EC 2.1.3.2) of Escherichia coli involves feedback inhibition by both CTP and UTP rather than just CTP alone. It has been known that CTP functions as a heterotropic inhibitor of catalysis; however, the inhibition by CTP alone is incomplete (50-70% at various aspartate concentrations) and there is only a partial occupancy of the allosteric binding sites by CTP at saturating concentrations. The logic of these allosteric characteristics can now be understood in that UTP is a synergistic inhibitor of ATCase in the presence of CTP even though UTP has no independent effect at pH 7.0. When saturating concentrations of CTP are present, the concentration of substrate required for half-maximal activity (S0.5) of the native holoenzyme for aspartate increases from 5 to 11 mM. When CTP and UTP are both present, the aspartate requirement increases further (S0.5 = 17 mM). At aspartate concentrations less than 5 mM, the heterotropic inhibition of ATCase is 90-95% in the presence of both pyrimidine nucleotides. UTP does enhance the binding of CTP to the holoenzyme but the number of tight binding sites does not change (n = 3). The binding of UTP is stabilized in the presence of CTP although its binding characteristics are not as strong as those of CTP. The recent crystallographic studies of Kim et al. [Kim, H.K., Pan, Z., Honzatko, R.B., Ke, H.M. & Lipscomb, W.N. (1987) J. Mol. Biol. 196, 853-875] have described a structural asymmetry across the molecular two-fold axis that is consistent with these CTP/UTP interactions. The synergistic inhibition of ATCase by both CTP and UTP provides a satisfying logic for ensuring a balance of endogenous pyrimidine nucleotide pools.

Regulation of mouse trophoblast giant cell nucleus development in hatched mouse blastocysts by cyclic cytidine 3',5'-monophosphate (cCMP)

The dibutyryl analog of cCMP enlarged the nuclei of trophoblast giant cells and promoted blastocyst development. The result suggests that cCMP has a trophic effect on embryonic development, specifically by altering the size of the trophoblast cell nucleus but does not enhance trophoblast cell proliferation processes.

[3H]arachidonic acid metabolism in rat brain minces: effects of nucleotide triphosphates, CDPcholine and CMP

Rat brain minces were used to investigate the effects of nucleotides on the metabolism of arachidonic acid in nerve tissue. Brain free fatty acids, neutral lipids and phospholipids, were radiolabeled in vivo following intracerebral injection of [3H]arachidonic acid. Minces were prepared from the radiolabeled cerebra and were incubated in a modified Krebs-Ringer buffer with and without various nucleotides. The incubation-induced accumulation of unesterified [3H]arachidonate was reduced in the presence of CDPcholine, ATP, CTP, GTP, and UTP. These nucleotides inhibited choline and inositol glycerophospholipid hydrolysis. They also reduced the amount of labeled diglycerides. However, CDPethanolamine had no effect on arachidonic acid metabolism in the mince preparation and CMP appeared to stimulate further hydrolysis of choline glycerophopholipids, resulting in increased accumulation of [3H]arachidonic acid and labeled diglycerides. We suggest that the production of unesterified [3H]arachidonate and labeled diglycerides is due to the involvement of more than one catabolic reaction, since the high energy nucleotides had similar effects on fatty acid accumulation, but different effects on phospholipid labeling.

Cytidine 5'-triphosphate-dependent dolichol kinase and dolichol phosphatase activities and levels of dolichyl phosphate in microsomal fractions from highly differentiated human hepatomas

Homogenates and microsomal fractions prepared from biopsies of highly differentiated human hepatocellular carcinomas were found to contain low levels of dolichol in comparison with control tissue. In contrast, the amount of dolichyl phosphate in tumor homogenates was unchanged and actually increased in the microsomal fraction. The pattern of individual polyisoprenoids, both in the free and the phosphorylated dolichol fractions of hepatomas, did not exhibit any major alterations compared to the control. The rates of incorporation of [3H]mevalonic acid into dolichol and dolichyl phosphate in hepatomas were low. The dolichol monophosphatase activities in microsomal fractions from hepatomas and controls did not show any major differences, whereas the activity of the CTP-dependent dolichol kinase was increased in tumor microsomes. Glycosylation of endogenous dolichyl phosphate and of total protein using certain nucleotide-activated sugars was found to be slightly elevated in microsomal fractions from the tumor itself when compared to the control. The reasons for the differences in the levels of polyisoprenoids in hepatomas and control tissue are discussed.

X-ray refinement study on the binding of cytidylic acid (2'-CMP) to ribonuclease A

The X-ray structure of the inhibitor complex of bovine ribonuclease A with cytidylic acid (2'-CMP) has been determined at 2.3 A (1 A = 0.1 nm) resolution and refined by restrained least-squares refinement to R = 0.132 for 5650 reflections. Incorporation of the inhibitor molecule has occurred with little disturbance of the protein main-chain atoms, although significant displacement of some side-chain atoms has occurred, particularly in the region of the active site. The binding of 2'-CMP to ribonuclease A is different from that of the related cytidine-N(3)-oxide 2'-phosphate, which has an extra oxygen on N(3) of the cytidine base. The PO4(2-) group is held by hydrogen bond interactions to the side-groups of His 12, Glu 11 and His119. Thr45 is involved in stabilizing the enzyme-ligand complex by forming hydrogen bond interactions between O(gamma) and the pyrimidine base N(3) atom and between the main-chain N(45) and O(2) of the base. Phe120 is much closer to the inhibitor than in the cytidine N(3)-oxide 2'-phosphate structure.

Cyclic cytidine monophosphate stimulates DNA synthesis by bovine mammary tissue in vitro

Mammary gland biopsies were taken from midpregnant heifers (n = 4), cut into pieces .5 mm thick and 3 - 5 mm2 and incubated for 48 hours in Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium containing 0, .1 or 1 micrograms/ml insulin and 0, 10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5), or 10(-4) M dibutyryl cyclic 3', 5', cytidine monophosphate (dbcCMP). With 0 or .1 microgram/ml insulin, dbcCMP decreased incorporation of tritiated thymidine into DNA. Similar declines in DNA synthesis were observed with sodium butyrate, suggesting that the decline was due to the butyrate rather than to a cyclic CMP-specific effect. With 1 micrograms/ml insulin, dbcCMP increased DNA synthesis. Higher levels of dbcCMP reduced DNA synthesis relative to 10(-6)M dbcCMP, as did sodium butyrate. Thus cCMP is capable of stimulating mammary growth.

Inhibition of DNA polymerase-alpha by ara-CMP in the presence of a regulatory protein extracted from human promyelocytic leukemic cells (HL-60)

Cytotoxicity of arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) has been related in vitro to the inhibition of the DNA polymerase activities by arabinosylcytosine triphosphate (ara-CTP) and the incorporation of ara-C into the DNA where, acting as a chain terminator, it slows the chain elongation. Induced in vitro cellular resistance to ara-C was shown to be secondary to altered deoxycytidine (dCyd) kinase activity, dCyd deaminase activity, or deoxynucleotides triphosphates (dNTP) pools. Recent studies reported no differences of ara-C metabolism in cells obtained from leukemic patients at diagnosis and at relapse after ara-C therapy, suggesting that unknown cellular biochemical determinants may be involved in acquisition of ara-C resistance. Using dialysed crude extracts of leukemic cells obtained from patients at diagnosis, we observed variable inhibition of their DNA polymerase activities by arabinosylcytosine monophosphate (ara-CMP) at 2 mmol/L (0% to 50% inhibition). In similar conditions, ara-CMP reduced the polymerase activities of human thymus extract by 35% and 55% in extract of HL-60 cells (cultured human promyelocytic cells). The ara-CMP factor responsible for inhibition of DNA polymerase activity was nondialysable, heat labile, proteinase K sensitive, and has an estimated molecular mass of 30 kilodalton by gel filtration. After partial purification, this protein had no DNA polymerase RNA polymerase activities. In presence of the regulator and ara-CMP at 2 mmol/L, we observed no inhibition of the HL-60 3'----5' and 5'----3' exonucleases activities, suggesting the regulator interaction being mainly with the DNA polymerases in presence of ara-CMP. The relevance of the presence or absence of this protein regarding the cell sensitivity to ara-C is under investigation.

CpA containing oligoribonucleotides specifically inhibit protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes

The diribonucleoside monophosphate CpA (and no others) inhibits polypeptide chain elongation in rabbit reticulocyte lysates at 10-50 microM. Furthermore, all the trinucleotides containing CpA, i.e., XpCpA and CpApX (X = U, C, A or G) block polypeptide chain elongation as well. At 10 microM the inhibition by XpCpA and not CpApX is transient because a 3'-exonucleolytic activity destroys the critical CpA moiety. The inhibitors do not appear to interfere with the aminoacylation of tRNAs or disrupt the interaction of amino-acyl-tRNAs with the protein synthetic machinery. High levels (200 microM) of CpA or the trinucleotides containing CpA have no effect on translation in a wheat germ cell-free system.

Inhibition of DNA replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by araCMP

Cytosine arabinoside (araC), a potent inhibitor of DNA replication in mammalian cells, was found to be completely ineffective in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The 5' monophosphate derivative, araCMP, is toxic and effectively inhibits both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA synthesis in this organism. Although wild-type strains can be inhibited by araCMP, dTMP permeable (tup-) strains were found to be much more sensitive to the analogue. In vivo labelling experiments indicate that araC enters yeast cells; however, it is extensively catabolized by deamination and breakage of the glycosidic bond. In addition, the analogue is not efficiently phosphorylated in S. cerevisiae owing to an apparent lack of deoxynucleoside kinase activity. These results provide further evidence that deoxyribonucleotides can be synthesized only through de novo pathways in this organism. Finally, araCMP was found to be recombinagenic in S. cerevisiae which suggests, together with other previous studies, that, in general, inhibition of DNA synthesis in yeast promotes mitotic recombination events.

Phosphatidylinositol:myo-inositol exchange activity in intact nerve endings: substrate and cofactor dependence, nucleotide specificity, and effect on synaptosomal handling of myo-inositol

Micromolar concentrations of CMP produced a large increase in Mn2+-dependent phosphatidylinositol:myo-inositol exchange activity in isolated nerve endings or synaptosomes. The apparent Km for CMP was 2 microM, and that for myo-inositol was 38 microM. Only cytidine nucleotides were capable of enhancing activity, and this effect is probably specific for CMP, because the synaptosomal preparation rapidly converted CTP or CDP to CMP. Manganese did not affect the uptake of myo-inositol into the synaptosomal cytosolic fraction or myo-inositol levels. Determinations of myo-inositol specific activity showed that the Mn2+-enhanced labeling of phosphatidylinositol was not accompanied by a decrease of label content in free myo-inositol. This lack of an effect on intrasynaptosomal myo-inositol and the dependence of exchange on cytidine nucleotides whereas cytidine itself was previously found to be without effect show that for the bulk of Mn2+-dependent exchange activity, it is the myo-inositol in the incubation medium that is being directly incorporated into membrane-bound phosphatidyl-inositol. Because CMP dependence is the hallmark of exchange catalyzed by CDP-diacylglycerol:inositol phosphatidyl transferase, this enzyme is likely to be responsible for most of the exchange activity in synaptosomes. The strong affinity of this exchange system for CMP suggests that endogenous levels of this nucleotide might support Mn2+-dependent exchange in the absence of added nucleotide.

Cytidine monophosphate-dependent synthesis of phosphatidylglycerol in permeabilized type II pneumonocytes

Results of previous investigations support the proposition that, in type II pneumonocytes, CMP is involved in integration of the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol for lung surfactant. In the present investigation, the amount of CMP in rat type II pneumonocytes was altered directly and resultant changes in the synthesis of phosphatidylglycerol were examined. Type II pneumonocytes were made permeable to CMP by treatment with Ca2+-free medium, and phosphatidylglycerol synthesis was then assessed by measurement of the incorporation of a radiolabelled precursor, [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate, that was not effectively utilized by cells that resisted permeabilization. Incorporation of [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate into phosphatidylglycerol (but not into other lipids) was stimulated greatly by CMP (half-maximal stimulation at approx. 0.1 mM). CMP stimulated the incorporation of [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate into both the phosphatidyl moiety and the head group of phosphatidylglycerol. Incorporation of [14C]palmitate into phosphatidylglycerol was also stimulated by CMP. myo-Inositol, at concentrations found in foetal-rat serum (0.2-2.0 mM), inhibited CMP-dependent incorporation of [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate into phosphatidylglycerol and promoted, instead, CMP-dependent incorporation into phosphatidylinositol. These data, when extrapolated to foetal type II pneumonocytes, are consistent with the view that the developmental increase in the synthesis of phosphatidylglycerol for surfactant by foetal lungs is promoted by the increase in intracellular CMP and the declining availability of myo-inositol that were found previously to be associated with this period of development.

The CMP-stimulated production of diacylglycerol and CDPdiacylglycerol in neuronal nuclei labelled with radioactive arachidonate

A neuronal nuclear fraction (N1), isolated from immature rabbit cerebral cortex, was preincubated with [3H]arachidonate, ATP, CoA, Mg2+ and 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine or 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoinositol. Using the former lysophospholipid, a sizeable incorporation of radioactivity was seen in N1 phosphatidylcholine. In subsequent incubations in the presence of CMP and EGTA, there was a generation of radioactive diacylglycerol in N1 and a corresponding decline in phosphatidylcholine radioactivity. Both these changes could be blocked by the addition of CDPcholine. In incubations using N1 phosphatidylinositol or phosphatidylethanolamine prelabelled with [3H]arachidonate, no evidence was found to support a direct generation of diacylglycerol from these phospholipids. The back reaction of cholinephosphotransferase in N1 is likely the principal source of diacylglycerols bearing arachidonate. Using either lysophospholipid in the preincubations described in the opening sentence, more than half of the incorporated radioactivity derived from [3H]arachidonate was found in N1 phosphatidylinositol. In subsequent incubations with EGTA and CMP there was a production of radioactive CDPdiacylglycerol and a decline in radioactive phosphatidylinositol. Both events could be blocked by the presence of myo-inositol. Radioactive CDPdiacylglycerol, produced in N1 in the presence of CMP and EGTA, was converted back into phosphatidylinositol by the addition of myo-inositol. The production of CDPdiacylglycerol is likely the result of the back reaction of CDPdiacylglycerol:inositol phosphatidate transferase in N1.

Phosphatidylcholine as a source of diacylglycerols in neuronal nuclei incubated in the presence of EGTA and CMP

A neuronal nuclear fraction (N1), isolated from immature rabbit cerebral cortex, was preincubated with 1-[14C]palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine and oleoyl-CoA. Most of the radioactivity was recovered in N1 phosphatidylcholine, and subsequent incubations in the presence of EGTA and CMP indicated an increase in radioactivity in N1 diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol which was matched by a decline in the labelling of N1 phosphatidylcholine. N1 phosphatidylcholine was also prelabelled using [14C]oleate and 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine in vitro, or by intrathecal injection of [3H]oleate prior to N1 isolation. In the following incubations with EGTA and CMP there was a good correspondence between the radioactive decline in N1 phosphatidylcholine and the increase in radioactivity in N1 diacylglycerol. In all these experiments the generation of radioactive diacylglycerol depended upon the presence of EGTA and CMP in the incubations and could be largely inhibited by the addition of CDP-choline. During the prelabelling procedures noted above, other complex lipids had less of the total radioactivity than phosphatidylcholine and showed little or no decline in radioactivity in the presence of EGTA and CMP. In N1 preincubations with [14C]oleate and lysophosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine could be more highly labelled than phosphatidylcholine, but in subsequent incubations with EGTA and CMP no decline was seen in phosphatidylethanolamine radioactivity. It is concluded that the back reaction of cholinephosphotransferase in N1 represents an active route for the production of diacylglycerols bearing palmitate and/or oleate.

An increased incorporation of fatty acid into triacylglycerols of neuronal nuclei in vitro in the presence of CMP and EGTA

Neuronal nuclei (N1) were isolated from cerebral cortices of 15-day-old rabbits. With the addition of both EGTA and CMP the incorporation of radioactive oleate into N1 triacylglycerols in vitro (in the presence of ATP, CoA, and MgCl2) was increased threefold. The same large increase could not be achieved using citrate or EDTA in the presence of CMP or using AMP, UMP, or TMP in the presence of EGTA. The increased labelling of N1 triacylglycerols could be greatly reduced when CDP-choline was added to incubations containing EGTA and CMP. Levels of endogenous N1 diacylglycerols increased threefold following a 10-min incubation in the presence of buffer (pH 7.4) and MgCl2, when CMP and EGTA were also added. Of the major N1 phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine was most similar in fatty acid composition to the enlarged endogenous diacylglycerol pool. The rate of formation of oleoyl-CoA in fraction N1 was not significantly changed by the presence of EGTA and CMP. Rates of triacylglycerol labelling could only be modestly increased when EGTA and CMP were added to incubations containing N1 samples with artificially enlarged endogenous diacylglycerol pools (produced by phospholipase C preincubations). It is suggested that EGTA, as a Ca2+ chelator, and CMP, as a substrate, may allow an enhanced diacylglycerol production mediated by the back reaction of cholinephosphotransferase in N1. The endogenous N1 diacylglycerol produced in the absence of EGTA and CMP may come from another metabolic route.

Inhibition of endoribonuclease VI from Artemia larvae by cytidine 2'-phosphate

The endoribonuclease VI from Artemia larvae is non-competitively inhibited by cytidine 2'-phosphate with a Ki ca 1 microM. Neither of the cytidine monophosphates isomers with the phosphate group in the 3' or 5' position nor the cyclic 2':3' phosphate are inhibitors at concentrations up to 100 microM. Adenosine, guanosine and uridine 2' or 3' phosphates are also ineffective in this range of concentrations. Certain polyribonucleotides are potent competitive inhibitors of the ribonuclease activity.

[Interaction of substrates and substrate-like inhibitors with the peptidyltransferase center from Escherichia coli ribosomes]

The binding isotherms of CACCA(3'NHPhe----Ac) and CACCA(3'NHPhe) to E. coli ribosomes and 50S subunits were measured. A theoretical model of adsorption for the case of cooperative interaction between two ligands adsorbed on a ribosome was designated. The analysis of the experimental binding isoterms leads to the following conclusions. A ribosome (or subunit) binds one CACCA (3'NHPhe----Ac) molecule to donor site of the peptidyl transferase center, but two CACCA (3'NHPhe) molecules to both donor and acceptor sites. The binding of CACCA (3'NHPhe) to ribosomes (or subunits) is a cooperative process, characterized by the cooperativity coefficient tau = 40 +/- 5 or more. When model substrates CACCA-Phe, CACCA-Leu and CACCA-Val were taken instead of CACCA (3'NHPhe) in the incubation mixture with ribosomes, dipeptides were obtained even in the case, when ratio [model substrate]: [ribosome] (in moles) was much lower than 1. Puromycin binding to acceptor site with constant (1-2) X 10(4) M-1 also stimulates CACCA(3'NHPhe----Ac) adsorption to the donor site of ribosomes with cooperativity coefficient being equal to 1.5-2.5. It is also shown that cytidine 5'-phosphate binding to the donor site increases kappa cat of the reaction of minimal donors with CACCA-Phe by 1.5 orders of magnitude but has no effect on Km of this reaction. These facts point out that cytidine 5'-phosphate being adsorbed on the corresponding area of the donor site leads to the conversion of low-productive complex [ribosome + minimal donor substrate + acceptor substrate] into high-productive complex [ribosome + minimal donor substrate + acceptor substrate + cytidine 5'-phosphate].

Activation of phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent protein kinase by cytidine 5'-triphosphate in rat skeletal muscle

The effects of nucleotides on phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent protein kinase in rat skeletal muscle were examined. Various ribonucleotide triphosphates were tested and the protein kinase reaction was maximally activated by cytidine 5'-triphosphate followed by uridine 5'-triphosphate and guanosine 5'-triphosphate. No activation by adenosine 5'-triphosphate was observed. Cytidine 5'-diphosphate also activated the reaction but to a significantly lesser extent. Cytidine 5'-monophosphate and cyclic cytidine 3',5'-monophosphate showed no effect whereas cytidine was slightly inhibitory.

Specific inhibition of phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase from Bacillus subtilis membranes by cytidine monophosphate

In Bacillus subtilis, the phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase was localized exclusively in the membrane fraction prepared by sucrose density gradient fractionation. A single enzyme could synthesize the two liponucleotides: CDPdiacylglycerol and dCDPdiacylglycerol. Kinetic experiments and isotopic exchange reactions suggested a ping-pong mechanism. Among the nucleosides monophosphate, CMP specifically reduced the synthesis of both liponucleotides. This inhibition was non-competitive and might be involved in regulation of phospholipid synthesis.

The effect of CMP on the release of free fatty acids of rat brain in vitro

With CMP, phosphatidylcholine can be converted to diacylglycerols and CDPcholine by reversal of the cholinephosphotransferase that is normally used for synthesis. Incubation of homogenates of rat brains at pH 8 with 20 mM MgCl2 increased the free fatty acid (FFA) levels 30 to 117%. The FFA levels increased 62 to 212% when 4 mM CMP was included. Diacylglycerols were also produced. Hydrolysis of the diacylglycerols to FFA was markedly inhibited by inclusion of 3 mM diisopropylphosphofluoridate in the incubation mixture. The composition of the fatty acids released by CMP resembles that of phosphatidylcholine except for some polyunsaturated fatty acids. These may have been released from the ethanolamine glycerophospholipids. Most of the CMP-stimulated release of FFA was blocked by inclusion of 1 mM CDPcholine in the incubation mixture. Rat brains were labeled by intracerebral injection of [3H]oleic acid. The labeled oleic acid was released primarily from phosphatidylcholine. Thus, measurements of both mass and radioactivity confirm that the reversal of cholinephosphotransferase followed by diacylglycerol lipase can be an important pathway for the liberation of FFA from phosphatidylcholine.

CMP-dependent phosphatidylinositol:myo-inositol exchange activity in isolated nerve-endings

Greatly enhanced manganese-dependent phosphatidylinositol:myo-inositol exchange activity was observed when isolated, intact nerve-endings were incubated with the nucleotide, CMP, suggesting that the enzyme, CDP-diglyceride:inositol phosphatidyl transferase, catalyzes this exchange. CMP, at 10 microM, produced as much myo-[2-3H] inositol incorporation into phosphatidylinositol as did 1 mM. This CMP-stimulated exchange activity may reside on the plasma membrane.

Direct photoaffinity labeling of the catalytic site of mouse ribonucleotide reductase by CDP

Ribonucleotide reductase reduces all four ribonucleoside diphosphates to the deoxyribonucleotides required for DNA synthesis. The enzyme is composed of two nonidentical subunits, M1 and M2. The 89-kilodalton M1 subunit contains at least two allosteric sites which, by binding nucleotide effectors, regulate the catalytic activity and substrate specificity of the enzyme. We now show that in addition, protein M1 contains a substrate-binding (catalytic) site which is specifically photolabeled after UV irradiation in the presence of the natural substrate, [32P]CDP. The photolabeling of protein M1 by [32P]CDP required the presence of the second subunit, protein M2, and ATP, the positive allosteric effector for CDP reduction. The negative effectors, dATP, dGTP, and dTTP, inhibited the photolabeling of wild type protein M1. Deoxy-ATP did not inhibit the labeling of a mutant protein M1 that is resistant to feedback inhibition by dATP. In addition, hydroxyurea and 4-methyl-5-aminoisoquinoline thiosemicarbazone, two inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase which affect protein M2, also inhibited the [32P]CDP labeling of protein M1. These data provide new insights into the role and interaction of the two ribonucleotide reductase subunits, proteins M1 and M2, and the mechanism of action of the allosteric effectors.

Regulation of Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamylase synthesis by guanosine tetraphosphate and pyrimidine ribonucleoside triphosphates

The effects of guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) and pyrimidine ribonucleoside triphosphates on Escherichia coli aspartate transcarbamylase (ATCase) synthesis were examined. To determine the effect of ppGpp, a stringent (relA+) and relaxed (relA) isogenic pair of E. coli K-12 strains was starved for isoleucine, and the residual rate of synthesis of this enzyme was measured. It was necessary to starve the strains for uracil before the isoleucine limitation to maintain similar, low levels of UTP, the putative pyrimidine effector of ATCase synthesis. The isoleucine starvation of the stringent strain caused an immediate 10-fold increase in the intracellular concentration of ppGpp, which was coincident with the cessation of the synthesis of the enzyme. The elevated level of ppGpp then decayed until it reached an intracellular concentration similar to that found in unstarved cells. Enzyme synthesis resumed at this time. In the relaxed strain, the intracellular concentration of ppGpp did not increase upon isoleucine starvation and synthesis of the enzyme was not repressed. These experiments strongly indicated that ppGpp acts as a negative effector of ATCase synthesis. The repression of ATCase synthesis by ppGpp was demonstrated directly by using a Salmonella typhimurium (relA) in vitro coupled transcription-translation system with a lambda specialized transducing phage carrying the E. coli K-12 operon encoding the subunits of this enzyme (pyrBI) as a source of DNA. This in vitro system was also used to measure the effects of UTP and CTP on ATCase synthesis. Increasing the concentration of UTP in the in vitro reaction mixture resulted in strong repression of this synthesis, whereas increasing the CTP concentration did not affect synthesis significantly. Possible mechanisms for the regulation of pyr gene expression, including attenuation control, are discussed.

Effects of CDPcholine and CDPethanolamine on the alterations in rat brain lipid metabolism induced by global ischemia

The fast turnover pool of rat brain lipids was labeled by intracerebral injection of [3H]acetate. Cerebral ischemia for a duration of 5 min after decapitation caused a 2.2-fold increase in radioactivity in the free fatty acids and loss of more than 20% of the radioactivity from choline and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids. An intracerebral injection of 0.6 mumol each of cytidine diphosphocholine (CDPcholine) and cytidine diphosphoethanolamine (CDPethanolamine) prevented the loss of radioactivity from the glycerophospholipids and decreased the amount of radioactivity in the free fatty acids by 59% as compared with control values and 82% as compared with ischemia values. By GLC assays of the mass of the free fatty acids there was a threefold increase of free fatty acids in ischemic brains. Pretreatment of ischemic brains with CDPcholine and CDPethanolamine reduced the levels of unesterified fatty acids to 60% of the control values. Thus, a prior injection of cytidine nucleotides prevented the release of free fatty acids observed in ischemic brains.

Regulation of uridine kinase quaternary structure. Dissociation by the inhibitor CTP

Uridine kinase from mouse Ehrlich ascites cells can exist in a variety of different aggregation states, from monomer up to aggregates that may contain 32 or more subunits. With very crude enzyme preparations, uridine kinase activity is always associated with several different coexisting molecular weight species. Changes in the aggregation state are produced in the presence of normal effectors (orthophosphate, ATP and CTP) at physiological concentrations. With uridine kinase that has been purified 9,000-fold, enzyme activity is associated with only a single molecular weight species, but is still responsive to the same physiological effectors. In the presence of orthophosphate, uridine kinase has a molecular weight of 380,000 (appropriate for a dodecamer). In the presence of CTP, the enzyme dissociates with concomitant loss of activity. The dissociated enzyme can be reassociated to the native size. These results imply that alteration of the enzyme's quaternary structure by normal effectors constitutes a mechanism for regulating uridine kinase activity in vivo.

CMP-dependent incorporation of [14C]Glycerol 3-phosphate into phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate by rabbit lung microsomes

Rabbit lung microsomes were found to catalyze CMP-dependent incorporation of [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate into a total lipid extract. The radioactively labeled products in the lipid extract were identified as phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate. CMP-dependent incorporation of [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate by lung microsomes proceeded optimally at pH 7.4 and required Mn2+. The apparent Km value for CMP in this reaction was calculated to be 0.19 mM. No other cytidine nucleotide could substitute completely for CMP in supporting [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate incorporation into lipid. Cytosine-beta-D-arabinofuranoside-5'-monophosphate-dependent incorporation of [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate was observed at pH 8.5 but not at pH 6.8 CMP-dependent incorporation of [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate by microsomes was inhibited by inositol. The optimal in vitro rates of CMP-dependent and CDP diacylglycerol-dependent incorporation of [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate into lipid were similar (approximately 1 nmol . mg-1 protein . h-1) and were not additive. Both CMP -dependent and CDP diacylglycerol-dependent incorporation of [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate by lung microsomes appeared to involve CDPdiacylglycerol:glycerol-3-phosphate phosphatidyltransferase. However, the specific activity of this enzyme in a particular subcellular fraction did not relate directly in the extent of CMP-dependent [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate incorporation in that fraction. Preincubation of lung microsomes with 5 mM CMP plus 3 mM phosphatidylinositol increased CMP-dependent incorporation of [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate. When lung microsomes were depleted specifically of phosphatidylinositol by incubating with a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, CMP-dependent incorporation was diminished. The Mn2+ requirement for CMP-dependent incorporation of [14C] glycerol 3-phosphate, its phosphatidylinositol requirement and its inhibition by Triton X-100 (0.2%) were not features shared by CDPdiacylglycerol-dependent incorporation of [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate but were characteristics of the reverse reaction catalyzed by CDPdiacylglycerol: inositol phosphatidyltransferase. Together with the previous finding of a developmental increase in the CMP content of fetal rabbit lung, these observations are consistent with a role for CMP in the regulation of the phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol content of lung surfactant during lung maturation.

Specificity of deoxycytidylate antibodies

Antibodies to deoxycytidylate (dpC) were elicited in rabbits using a thyroglobulin (Tg) conjugate of dpC. The specificity of the antibodies was determined by measuring the inhibition of the binding of [3H]dpC to the antibodies by various non-radioactive nucleotides or derivatives. The antibodies were found to distinguish dpC from pC and DNA from RNA, probably due to their specificity for the conformation of the deoxycytidylate.

Glycosyltransferases of the human cervical epithelium. II. Characterization of a CMP-N-acetylneuraminate: galactosyl-glycoprotein sialyltransferase

GMP-N-Acetylneuraminate: galactosyl-glycoprotein sialytransferase (CMP-N-acetylneuraminate: D-galactosyl-glycoprotein N-acetylneuraminyltransferase, EC 2.4.99.1) activity was identified in the human cervical epithelium. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 6.0, a temperature optimum of 28 degrees C, and demonstrates a partial requirement for Triton X-100. Michaelis constants for asialofetuin and CMP-N-acetyl[14C]neuraminic acid are 0.64 . 10(-5) M (expressed as the concentration of terminal galactose residues) and 2.05 . 10(-5) M, respectively. Sialytransferase demonstrated minimal affinity for the low molecular weight acceptors tested, and may have a requirement for a glycoprotein acceptor having a terminal N-acetyllactosamine (Gal beta (1 leads to 4)GlcNAc) type structure. Cytidine nucleotides are potent inhibitors of the sialyltransferase reaction; CMP acts as a competitive inhibitor.

Synthesis, characterization and properties of ppp(A2'p)nApCp and related high-specific-activity 32P-labelled derivatives of ppp(A2'p)nA

T4 RNA ligase (EC 6.5.1.3) has been used to link cytidine 3',5'-[5'-32P]bisphosphate or unlabelled cytidine 3',5'-bisphosphate (pCp) covalently to the 3'-OH of individual components of 5'-triphospho-oligo[(2'-5')adenylyl]adenosine [ppp(A2'p)nA with n = 2 or 3] and adenylyl(2'-5')adenylyl(2'-5')adenosine [(A2'p)2A] to yield 5'-triphospho-oligo[(2'-5')adenylyl]adenylyl(3'-5')cytidine 3'-phosphate [ppp(A2'p)nApCp with n = 2 or 3] and adenylyl(2'-5')adenylyl(2'-5')adenylyl(3'-5')cytidine 3'-phosphate (A2'p)2ApCp], respectively. The radioactive products isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography had specific activities greater than 10(6) Ci/mol. These products were found to be effective probes for use in radiobinding and radioimmune assays for ppp(A2'p)nA and (A2'p)nA [M. Knight et al. (1980) Nature 288, 189-192]. ppp(A2'p)nA is unstable in cell-free systems and in intact cells. ppp(A2'p)nApCp, however, was found to be much more stable than ppp(A2'p)nA in extracts of rabbit reticulocytes or Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. (A2'p)2Ap, (A2'p)2ApC (reticulocyte only) or (A2'p)2ApCp were also more stable than unmodified (A2'p)2A in these systems. The results are consistent with a specific degradation pathway for ppp(A2'p)nA which proceeds from the 3' terminus. ppp(A2'p)3ApCp activated the ppp(A2'p)nA-dependent RNase and inhibited protein synthesis in a reticulocyte cell-free system at least as well as unmodified tetramer ppp(A2'p)3A, suggesting that an unmodified 3' terminus is not required for full activity in this system. In extracts from mouse Ehrlich ascites tumour or L-cells, however, ppp(A2'p)nApCp was greater than or equal to 30 fold less active (if directly active at all).