Quantitative flow visualization of fluidized-bed heat exchanger by neutron radiography

Quantitative flow visualization of a gas-solid fluidized-bed installed vertical tube-bank has been successfully conducted using neutron radiography and image processing technique. The quantitative data of void fraction distribution as well as the fluctuation data are presented. The time-averaged void fraction is well correlated by the drift-flux model. The bubbles formed in the bed, rise along the vertical tubes and the observed bubble size is smaller than that in a free bubbling bed without tube-banks. The bubble diameter is well correlated by the modified Mori and Wen's correlation taking into account the pitch of tube arrangement. The bubble rise velocity is also well correlated by applying the drift-flux model. These results are consistent for both bed materials of Geldart's B- and A-particles, while the bubble size is significantly different between two kinds of particles.

The carboxyl terminal sequence of nucleolar protein B23.1 is important in its DNA polymerase alpha-stimulatory activity

The protein B23 is a major nucleolar phosphoprotein comprising two isoforms, B23.1 and B23.2, which differ only in their carboxyl-terminal short sequences, the N-terminal 255 residues being identical in both forms. Both B23.1 and B23.2 stimulated immunoaffinity-purified calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha in a dose-dependent manner. The stimulatory effect of protein B23.1, the longer isoform, was found to be 2-fold greater than that of B23.2. Purified DNA polymerase alpha bound tightly to a protein B23.1-immobilized column, while it bound weakly to a protein B23.2-immobilized column. Surface plasmon resonance studies by BIAcore further showed that protein B23.1 bound to the DNA polymerase alpha-(dA).(dT) complex more tightly than did protein B23.2. The protein B23 isoforms appear to interact directly with the DNA polymerase alpha protein and not through the bound nucleic acid. These observations indicated that protein B23 physically bound to the DNA polymerase alpha and stimulated the enzyme activity. Product analyses showed that protein B23 greatly enhanced the reaction both in amount and length of product DNA, whereas it did not significantly alter the processivity of polymerization. In contrast, protein B23 effectively protected DNA polymerase alpha from heat inactivation. These results suggest that protein B23 stabilizes DNA polymerase alpha that is detached from product DNA, allowing the enzyme to be recruited for further elongation. Moreover, experiments using various C-terminal deletion mutants of protein B23 indicated that 12 amino acids at the C-terminal end of B23.1, which are absent in B23.2, may be essential for the full stimulation of the DNA polymerase alpha.

Inhibition of eukaryotic dna polymerase alpha by persimmon (Diospyros kaki) extract and related polyphenols

The effects of persimmon extract (Diospyros kaki) and related polyphenols on eukaryotic DNA polymerase alpha were examined. It was found that persimmon extract, epigallocatechin gallate, and epicatechin gallate strongly inhibited the activity of DNA polymerase alpha purified from calf thymus. Among these polyphenols, persimmon extract had the most potent effect on DNA polymerase alpha activity and the concentration of persimmon extract producing 50% inhibition of the activity was 0.191 microM. Persimmon extract showed a weaker effect on DNA polymerase beta and slightly inhibited primase and DNA polymerase I. The inhibition of DNA polymerase alpha by persimmon extract was competitive with the template-primer and noncompetitive with dTTP substrate. The Ki value of DNA polymerase alpha for persimmon extract was estimated to be 70 nM. Moreover, persimmon extract inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation of human peripheral lymphocyte cells stimulated by PHA.

Nucleolar protein B23.1 binds to retinoblastoma protein and synergistically stimulates DNA polymerase alpha activity

Phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein and nucleolar protein B23 are putative stimulatory factors for DNA polymerase alpha. We showed that these two factors interacted with each other and stimulated the activity of DNA polymerase alpha synergistically. B23 exists in two isoforms designated as B23.1 and B23.2. While B23.1 bound to a retinoblastoma protein-conjugated column, B23.2 did not. These results indicate that B23.1 can directly bind to retinoblastoma protein. It was also shown that B23 was co-immunoprecipitated with both retinoblastoma protein and DNA polymerase alpha from a HeLa cell extract by monoclonal antibodies raised against these components. These results suggest that these three proteins exist as a complex in cells, at least in part. The simultaneous addition of both B23.1 and retinoblastoma protein caused stimulation of DNA polymerase alpha activity that is much higher than the sum of the stimulation by retinoblastoma protein and B23.1 alone. The maximal stimulation was attained at the molar ratio of DNA polymerase alpha/retinoblastoma protein/B23.1 = 1:1:12. Since B23 exists as a hexamer in solution, it may act as a stimulator of DNA polymerase alpha in a form of double-hexamer, in concert with the phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein.

Effects of castor oil on lipid metabolism in rats

Weanling rats were given diets contained castor oil (CAO-diet), coconut oil (CO-diet), or high-oleic safflower oil (HO-diet) each 10% (wt). No growth retardations were observed on the CAO-diets. The CAO-diet group showed significantly lower serum cholesterol and hepatic triacylglycerols than the HO-diet group. Ricinoleic acid was found at an extremely low level in perirenal adipose tissue.

Effects of dietary alpha- or gamma-linolenic acid on levels and fatty acid compositions of serum and hepatic lipids, and activity and mRNA abundance of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase in rats

The effects of diets containing equal amounts of alpha (alpha)- or gamma (gamma)-linolenic acid on lipid metabolism were compared in rats. Four groups of male Wistar rats were given the diets containing 20% perilla/corn mixed oil or borage oil in the absence (PO- and BO-diets, respectively) or presence (CPO- and CBO-diets) of cholesterol for 20 days. The PO-diet yielded lower serum cholesterol than the BO-diet, although the difference was not observed between the CPO and CBO groups. The PO and CPO groups showed lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than the BO and CBO groups, respectively. A similar tendency was observed in serum phospholipids. The CPO-diet gave markedly lower hepatic triglycerides than the CBO-diet. The activity of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase was much lower on the PO-diet than on the BO-diet. mRNA abundance of HMG-CoA reductase was lower in rats on the PO-diet than on the BO-diet, though there was no significant difference between the CPO and CBO groups. The present results indicate that alpha-linolenic acid exhibits a larger hypocholesterolemic effect than gamma-linolenic acid, and it may be displayed mainly through the repression of the activity and mRNA expression of HMG-CoA reductase.

Comparative effects of short- and long-term feeding of safflower oil and perilla oil on lipid metabolism in rats

Diets high in linoleic acid (20% safflower oil contained 77.3% linoleic acid, SO-diet) and alpha-linolenic acid (20% perilla oil contained 58.4% alpha-linolenic acid, PO-diet) were fed to rats for 3, 7, 20, and 50 days, and effects of the diets on lipid metabolism were compared. Levels of serum total cholesterol and phospholipids in the rats fed the PO-diet were markedly lower than those fed the SO-diet after the seventh day. In serum and hepatic phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, the proportion of n-3 fatty acids showed a greater increase in the PO group than in the SO group in the respective feeding-term. At the third and seventh days after the commencement of feeding the experimental diets, expressions of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase mRNA were significantly higher in the SO group than those in the PO group, although the difference was not observed in the longer term. There were no significant differences in the LDL receptor mRNA levels between the two groups through the experimental term, except 3-days feeding. These results indicate that alpha-linolenic acid has a more potent serum cholesterol-lowering ability than linoleic acid both in short and long feeding-terms.

The delta isoform of protein phosphatase type 1 is localized in nucleolus and dephosphorylates nucleolar phosphoproteins

The immunolocalization and substrates of protein phosphatases present in nucleolus were investigated using Swiss 3T3 cells and Novikoff hepatoma ascites cells. The protein phosphatase activity was detected in the extract of the isolated nucleoli and its activity was inhibited by okadaic acid with IC50 value of 160 nM. Immunoblotting assay indicated that PP1c delta but not PP1c alpha, PP1c gamma 1, and PP2Ac was localized in the isolated nucleoli. Confocal microscopy showed that PP1c delta was localized in nucleoli, nuclei, and cytosol, though the intensity of fluorescence at the nucleoli was stronger than that of the cytosol or nuclei. PP1c delta was co-localized with the major nucleolar phosphoprotein B23 at nucleoli. The phosphatase was capable of dephosphorylating several proteins in the nucleolus, including B23. The Km of PP1 for the recombinant B23.1, phosphorylated by endogenous kinase(s), was 3.5 microM. These results indicate that PP1c delta is the major serine/threonine phosphatase present in nucleolus and it dephosphorylates nucleolar phosphoproteins, including B23.

Development of guanine analyzer to measure activity of guanylate cyclase

A previous analyzer of adenine compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography was converted for the determination of guanine, its nucleoside and nucleotides by a post-column fluorescence derivatization with phenylglyoxal (PGO) in place of bromoacetoaldehyde. The gel filtration column (Asahipak GS-320H) was used for separation by a mobile phase consisting of 25 mM sodium citrate buffered (pH 4.0)-150 mM NaCl solution and CH3CN (85:15, v/v) containing 15 mM PGO. The separated analytes reacted with flow through PGO in a reaction coil at 90 degrees C into fluorescent derivatives. Those derivatives were detected fluorimetrically, highly selective and quantitatively. The activity of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) in the neuroblastoma N1E-115 cell was measured by tracing the peak height of cGMP synthesized from substrate GTP using this guanine analyzer. The sensitivity of the present method was lower than the radioisotope method. However, our modified method was simpler, safer and quicker than the radioisotope method. Furthermore, this method could trace other guanine compounds simultaneously, allowing measurement of guanine metabolizing enzymatic activity. Therefore, it will be useful for screening of effectors on sGC.

A surface plasmon resonance assay for the binding of Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Mexico lectin to glycoprotein

We have used the analytical system based on surface plasmon resonance to monitor the interaction between Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Mexico lectin and four different fetuins; fetuin, asialofetuin, agalactofetuin, and agalactosaminofetuin. Agalactofetuin and agalactosaminofetuin were prepared by enzymic digestion of asialofetuin using jack bean beta-galactosidase or endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase from Diplococcus pneumoniae. Ligands were immobilized onto a sensor surface via amide linkages. The lectin interacted most strongly with asialofetuin, but not with agalactosaminofetuin. The binding of the lectin to asialofetuin was inhibited by N-acetylgalactosamine or Gal beta 1-->3GalNAc in a dose-dependent manner.

Purification and characterization of a lectin from Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Mexico seeds

A lectin from Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Mexico (AHML) was purified by affinity chromatography using asialofetuin-Sepharose 4B. AHML is specific for N-acetyl-D-galactosamine as are the other Amaranthus lectins. AHML has no carbohydrate moiety and requires no metal ion for the hemagglutination activity. The pI of AHML is 6.8. AHML has a native molecular mass of 45.0 kDa and is composed of homo-subunits having molecular masses of 36.8 kDa.

Characterization of a lectin from the leaves of great northern bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L

A novel lectin (GNLL) was isolated from the leaves of the Great Northern bean, Phaseolus vulgaris. GNLL was purified by affinity chromatography on ovomucoid-Sepharose 4B. GNLL had a molecular mass of 135 kDa on gel filtration and gave two bands on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE)(band A of 34.0 kDa and band B of 34.2 kDa). Binding assay of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-glycoproteins to the bands electroblotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane showed that both bands could bind to complex-type N-linked oligosaccharide chains in glycoproteins. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of both bands were identical through the 10 residues and identical to that of alpha-subunit of a pod lectin (pod-alpha-subunit) from the same bean. On the other hand, band B cross-reacted with monoclonal antibody against a seed lectin from the same bean, but band A did not.

Purification and characterization of a pod lectin from Great Northern bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L

The pods of the Great Northern bean plant contain a lectin (GNpL) that highly resembles seed lectins (GNLs) of the same plant. Purification of GNpL from pod extracts was achieved by ion-exchange chromatographies on CM- and DEAE-celluloses and gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 HR. GNpL has a similar SDS-PAGE pattern to that of GNLs. GNpL and GNLs yield three subunits though each GNpL subunit is 0.5 kDa smaller than the corresponding GNLs subunit (GNpL; pod-alpha-subunit of 34.0 kDa, pod-beta-subunit of 36.5 kDa, and pod-gamma-subunit of 38.5 kDa). GNpL and GNLs display indistinguishable carbohydrate specificities and have similar amino acid compositions. Pod-alpha-subunit cross-reacts with antibodies against GNLs on western blotting. On the other hand, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of pod-alpha-subunit suggests that GNpL is a distinct gene product from those of GNLs genes although they are shown to be homologous proteins.

Purification and characterization of three mitogenic lectins from the roots of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

Three mitogenic lectins, designated PL-A, PL-B, and PL-C, were purified from the roots of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) using Q-Sepharose column chromatography followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75, hydrophobic chromatography on Butyl-Toyopearl, and FPLC on a Mono-Q column. PL-A, PL-B, and PL-C are acidic proteins having isoelectric points of 4.35 and their apparent molecular masses were 22, 48, and 21 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol, respectively. The three lectins have similar amino acid compositions rich in half-cystine and similar N-terminal sequences, indicating that they are homologous proteins. Identical sequences of N-terminal regions and six corresponding tryptic peptides in PL-A and PL-B suggested that PL-A may be an N-terminal half fragment of PL-B. Although all of three lectins have mitogenic activities, PL-B is a mitogenic lectin with the most potent hemagglutinating and mitogenic activities, and PL-C has almost no hemagglutinating activity.

Stimulation of calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha activity by nucleolar protein B23

Protein B23 is a major RNA-associated nucleolar protein and putative ribosome assembly factor which exists in at least two isoforms designated B23.1 and B23.2. Recently, it has been reported that B23 is copurified with DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex. To examine its possible role in DNA replication, the effects of B23 on DNA polymerase activities were investigated. B23.1 purified from rat Novikoff hepatoma ascites cell nucleoli stimulated the activity of DNA polymerase alpha by as much as 3-to 4-fold in a dose-dependent manner, while it showed little effect on the activities of DNA polymerase beta, gamma, and primase. Rat recombinant B23.1 showed the same stimulation as that of B23.1 from Novikoff cells. In contrast, isoform B23.2 showed no effect on the activity of DNA polymerase alpha, suggesting that C-terminal region of B23.1 is important in its activity in the stimulation of DNA polymerase alpha.

Purification and characterization of novel lectins from Great Northern bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L

Two lectins, GNL-1 and 2, were isolated from extracts of Great Northern bean powder through fractionation with ammonium sulfate, ion-exchange chromatographies on CM- and DEAE-celluloses, and gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-200 HR. These lectins were shown to be homogenous by gel electrophoresis, gel filtration, and isoelectric focusing. The lectins (GNL-1 and 2) have molecular masses of 175 and 145 kDa on gel filtration, respectively. They yield three bands having the respective same molecular masses on SDS-PAGE (GNL-1; alpha-subunit of 34.5 kDa, beta of 37.0, and gamma of 39.0: GNL-2; alpha' of 34.5 kDa, beta' of 37.0, and gamma' of 39.0). Two lectins are shown to be glycoproteins and the carbohydrate contents of GNL-1 and 2 are 5.1 and 4.5%, respectively. The isoelectric points are 5.5 and 5.1 and the extinction coefficients (A 1cm 1%) at 280 nm are 11.37 and 11.45, respectively. These lectins are nonspecific in agglutination for rabbit and any types of human erythrocytes. Inhibition study shows no specificity against mono and disaccharides. On the other hand, binding assay of horseradish peroxidase-glycoproteins to the bands electroblotted onto PVDF membrane reveals that all of the subunits can bind to sugar moieties in fetuin, asialofetuin, and porcine thyroglobulin specifically. Moreover, assay of mitogenic activity shows that GNL-1 is a strong mitogen, but GNL-2 is lack of the activity.

Characterization of trypsin inhibitors from Tora-mame seeds, one of the Japanese cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris

Four isoinhibitors against bovine pancreatic trypsin were purified from Phaseolus vulgaris(cv. Tora-mame) seeds by extraction with water(pH 2.0), ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel chromatography on Sephacryl S-200, trypsin-Sepharose gel affinity chromatography, and chromatofocusing. They inhibit both trypsin and chymotrypsin strongly. Their molecular masses are 85 kDa, estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Their isoelectric points range 5.09 to 4.46. They are high in the content of aspartic acid, serine, proline, and half-cystine but low in valine, methionine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. Tryptophan is absent from them completely. They are bound to both trypsin and chymotrypsin with equimolar ratio, and have separate and independent binding sites for both proteases. Chemical modification showed that the inhibitors are of lysine type.

Nucleolar protein B23: bacterial expression, purification, oligomerization and secondary structures of two isoforms

Protein B23 is an abundant nucleolar phosphoprotein and putative ribosome assembly factor. Two forms of the protein, B23.1 and B23.2, contain 292 and 257 amino acids, respectively, and differ only in their C-terminal sequences. The two B23 isoforms have been produced in Escherichia coli using the pKK223-3 expression vector and purified to near homogeneity. The purification utilized ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, heparin-Sepharose and Bio-Rad Q. By combined gel filtration and sedimentation analyses, both B23.1 and B23.2 formed multimers of Mr 210 to 255 kDa (apparent hexamers), suggesting that the differences in C-terminal ends of of the isoforms do not affect oligomerization. The oligomerization was not dependent on disulfide bond formation. The circular dichroism spectra of recombinant proteins B23.1 and B23.2 were similar suggesting that the carboxyl-terminal difference in the two proteins does not markedly influence overall secondary structure. Using routines for fitting the CD spectra to those of basis vectors the recombinant B23 isoforms appeared to be composed predominantly of beta-sheet and beta-turn secondary structures. Protein B23 from HeLa cell nuclei was recently shown to have a high affinity for the HIV-1 Rev protein. Using sucrose density gradient centrifugation it was shown that both recombinant proteins B23.1 and B23.2, as well as B23.1 isolated from Novikoff hepatoma nucleoli, were capable of binding the Rev protein.

DNA polymerase alpha, beta, and gamma activities in human lymphocytes stimulated by Tora-mame (Phaseolus vulgaris) lectin

We measured the levels of the DNA polymerases alpha, beta, and gamma in human peripheral lymphocyte cells stimulated with Tora-mame lectin (TM-lectin) and the induction patterns were compared to those with other plant lectins, i.e., phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM). The maximum activity of DNA polymerase alpha in lymphocytes was achieved at the concentration of 10 micrograms/ml with TM lectin and the dose response curve of TM lectin showed a sharp peak in contrast to that of PWM. During prolonged stimulation for 10 days, the time course of DNA polymerase alpha induction was different among these three lectins. A peak of alpha-enzyme was correlated with maximal incorporation of [3H]thymidine and was observed on the fourth day with TM lectin, on the third day with PHA, and sixth day with PWM. DNA polymerase beta in lymphocytes was also activated by the addition of these proteins. Two different peaks were observed during a 10-day period with every lectin, and TM lectin was most potent stimulator among them. The activity of DNA polymerase gamma in lymphocytes was at a very low but detectable level which increased slightly in response to TM lectin treatment. Although some variability of gamma-enzyme activity was observed after the seventh day, the pattern in the course of 7 days was similar among the lectins.

Existence of Mg2+-dependent, neutral sphingomyelinase in nuclei of rat ascites hepatoma cells

A sphingomyelinase, which specifically hydrolyzes sphingomyelin into ceramide and phosphocholine, was solubilized from nuclear matrix fraction of rat ascites hepatoma, AH7974 cells. The solubilized enzyme was subjected to Mono Q column chromatography in an FPLC system. The sphingomyelinase which was adsorbed on the column and eluted at 0.25-0.5 M NaCl was characterized. The enzyme required 10 mM MgCl2, 0.01% Triton X-100, 1 mM dithiothreitol, and a higher concentration of buffer than 1 M for its maximal activity, and the optimal pH was 6.7-7.2 in 2 M Tris/acetic acid or 7.5 in 2 M potassium acetate/acetic acid. N-Ethylmaleimide completely inhibited the enzyme activity at 0.2 mM. Therefore, this enzyme is classified as a Mg2+-dependent, neutral sphingomyelinase. The sphingomyelinase sedimented at 4.3S through a 10-30% glycerol gradient containing 2 M potassium acetate. This enzyme was highly specific to sphingomyelin and did not hydrolyze phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol. Various characteristics of the nuclear sphingomyelinase were similar to those of the plasma membrane enzyme except its requirement for a high concentration of buffer and SH-reagent.

A novel stimulating protein of mammalian DNA polymerase alpha

A DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex, which had been purified by means of immunoaffinity column chromatography, showed little activity in a reaction mixture composed of Tris-HCl buffer, but showed full activity in potassium phosphate buffer. It was found that potassium ion is required for the reaction by the immunoaffinity-purified enzyme. On the other hand, the DNA polymerase alpha purified by the orthodox biochemical method showed full activity in both buffer systems. A protein factor, which could restore the activity of immunoaffinity-purified DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex in the potassium-free reaction mixture, was separated from biochemically purified DNA polymerase alpha. The factor, designated as factor T, was stable to heat up to 70 degrees C, but was sensitive to trypsin. It sedimented at about 4S through a glycerol gradient. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed two polypeptide bands at 56 and 54 kDa. By immunoprecipitation, the factor T was shown to be physically associated with DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex. The stimulation was also observed with poly[d(A-T)], primed M13 DNA, and heat-denatured DNA.

A Ca2+-dependent DNA primase-like activity from HeLa cells

Novel DNA primase-like activity was partially purified from human Hela cells, and the activity was clearly separated from DNA polymerase alpha by phosphocellulose column chromatography. The enzyme did not show significant activity in the absence of Ca2+, and was dramatically activated by the addition of Ca2+; so it was designated as C-primase. The C-primase showed a molecular weight of 20,000 estimated by gel filtration and a sedimentation coefficient of 3.5 S by glycerol gradient centrifugation. These results, together with the other properties of the C-primase, suggest that this primase like-enzyme is distinct from the authentic eukaryotic primase in the DNA polymerase alpha/DNA primase complex.

A novel phospholipase A2 associated with nuclear matrix: stimulation of the activity and modulation of the Ca2+ dependency by polyphosphoinositides

Neutral phospholipase A2 activity, which hydrolyzed phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine with the same efficiency, was identified in the nuclear matrix prepared from purified nuclei of rat ascites hepatoma cells (AH 7974). The enzyme activity was optimal at pH 7.0 and required Ca2+ absolutely. Concentrations of Ca2+ for a maximal and a half-maximal activation were 1.10(-2) and 1.10(-3) M, respectively, and little activity was detected at Ca2+ concentrations lower than 1.10(-5) M. Addition of acidic phospholipids markedly stimulated the enzyme activity, and further, lowered the minimum Ca2+ concentration required for activation. In particular, the polyphosphoionositides phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate and 4,5-diphosphate were most effective. These two polyphosphoinositides lowered the Ca2+ concentration required for half-maximal activation to 10(-5) M and dramatically stimulated the activity at that Ca2+ concentration (greater than 30-fold). The neutral phospholipase A2 activity such as characterized in the present study was very low in the other subcellular fractions including mitochondria, microsome, plasma membrane and cytosol.

Inhibition of calmodulin function by CV-159, a novel dihydropyridine compound

1,4-Dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridine-dicarboxylic acid methyl 6-(5-phenyl-3-pyrazolyloxy)hexyl ester (CV-159), a new compound synthesized from dihydropyridine, was examined for its effect on calmodulin (CaM) function. The concentration of CV-159 producing 50% inhibition of Ca2+/CaM activated myosin light chain kinase (MLC kinase) was 6.2 microM. The apparent Ki value of CV-159 was 0.8 microM for MLC kinase. On the other hand, the concentration of CV-159 producing 50% inhibition of Ca2+/CaM activated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (Ca2+-PDE) was 0.55 microM. CaM antagonized competitively the CV-159-induced inhibition of activation of both MLC kinase and Ca2+-PDE. Interaction of CV-159 with CaM was also demonstrated by fluorescence studies using dansyl-CaM (5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonylated CaM). CV-159 produced a decrease in fluorescence intensity of dansyl-CaM, in a Ca2+-dependent fashion, and the concentration of this drug producing 50% inhibition of dansyl-CaM fluorescence was 1.2 microM. However, the concentration of nicardipine producing 50% inhibition of MLC kinase exceeded 100 microM. CaM did not antagonize the nicardipine-induced inhibition of Ca2+-PDE. These results suggest that the action of CV-159 is unique in that it inhibits both Ca2+-PDE and MLC kinase, through interaction with calmodulin. CV-159 seems to be a different class of drug from known dihydropyridine compounds.

Structural study of immunoaffinity-purified DNA polymerase alpha-DNA primase complex from calf thymus

The DNA polymerase alpha-DNA primase complex was purified over 17,000-fold to near homogeneity from calf thymus using an immunoaffinity column. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis revealed three polypeptides with molecular weights of 140, 50 and 47 kDa, in a ratio of 1:2:0.25. The complex showed a sedimentation coefficient of 9.7 S, a Stokes radius of 56 A and a native molecular weight of 250-260 kDa. Taken together, the data suggest that the calf thymus dNA polymerase alpha-DNA primase complex is essentially a heterotrimer of large (140 kDa) and small (50 kDa) subunits in a ratio of 1:2, with a globular conformation. Electron-microscopic studies of the complex revealed a spherical particle of 120 A in diameter, in agreement with the physiochemical results. The binding of the complex to DNA was also demonstrated.

Phospholipid modulates in vitro replication of autonomous replicating sequence from human cells

A cloned plasmid, pmyc(H-K), containing sequences derived from human c-myc gene replicated in vitro in Raji nuclear extract in a semiconservative manner. Using this system, it was found that phosphatidylinositol and cardiolipin strongly inhibited the replication of pmyc(H-K) in vitro, whereas other phospholipids, i.e., phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidic acid, and sphingomyelin, had no appreciable effect. The concentrations of phosphatidylinositol and cardiolipin producing 50% inhibition of the replication were 4.6 and 5.4 microM, respectively. Phosphatidylinositol and cardiolipin inhibited the relaxation of pmyc(H-K) supercoiled DNA, but showed little or weaker effects on DNA polymerase alpha and topoisomerase II in Raji nuclear extract. These results suggest that phosphatidylinositol and cardiolipin antagonize the replication of pmyc(H-K) in vitro, through, at least in part, the interaction with topoisomerase I.

Increase in S-100b protein content in thyroid carcinoma

S-100b protein was detectable in the soluble fraction of thyroid tissue. The concentration of S-100b protein in thyroid carcinoma tissue was three to five times higher than in normal thyroid tissue and thyroid adenoma. It is, however, not higher in the thyroid tissue of Graves' disease. The increase of S-100b protein concentration was not remarkable in carcinomatous tissue of the stomach and other digestive organs. The calmodulin content in the thyroid carcinoma tissue increased but the increment was low compared to that of S-100b protein. These data suggest that S-100b protein may play a significant role in cell maturation or differentiation.

Modulation of calmodulin function and of Ca2+-induced smooth muscle contraction by the calmodulin antagonist, HT-74

The relationship between the functions of calmodulin (CaM) and Ca2+-induced smooth muscle contraction was investigated using a newly synthesized CaM antagonist, 3-(2-benzothiazolyl)-4,5-dimethoxy-N-[3-(4- -phenylpiperidinyl)propyl]benzenesulfonamide (HT-74). We noted a selectivity of HT-74 for CaM, compared to other calcium-binding proteins and target enzymes of CaM. As HT-74 had no significant effect on the intensity of 8-anilino-1-naphthalene-sulfonic acid (ANS) fluorescence in the presence of the Ca2+-CaM complex, the HT-74-binding sites may differ from those of naphthalenesulfonamides and phenothiazines which decrease ANS fluorescence. The Ca2+ binding to CaM was inhibited significantly by 1.0 microM HT-74, in sharp contrast to phenothiazines and naphthalenesulfonamides which increase the extent of the Ca2+ binding to CaM. Increasing CaM concentrations reversed the HT-74-induced inhibition of CaM-dependent enzymes such as myosin light chain kinase and Ca2+-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, with Ki values of 0.5 microM and 0.4 microM, respectively. In the presence of 0.3 microM HT-74, potassium-depolarized rabbit aortic strips pre-contracted with 0.3 mM CaCl2 relaxed, and this relaxation was completely reversed by the addition of an excess amount of CaCl2 (10 mM). This compound shifted the dose-response curve for CaCl2 to the right, in a competitive manner. However, HT-74 inhibited the phenylephrine-induced contraction elicited in Ca2+-free solution and the calcium ionophore A23187-induced contraction in the presence of calcium ion. Therefore, this agent affects intracellular actions of Ca2+ rather than membrane receptors or the influx of Ca2+. HT-74 is a CaM antagonist which binds to CaM in a manner different from that heretofore reported. It inhibits Ca2+ binding to CaM and produces a competitive inhibition of Ca2+-induced contractions of depolarized vascular smooth muscle.

Phosphorylation of caldesmon by protein kinase C

Protein kinase C catalyzes phosphorylation of caldesmon, an F-actin binding protein of smooth muscle, in the presence of Ca2+ and phospholipid. Protein kinase C incorporates about 8 mol of phosphate/mol of chicken gizzard caldesmon. When calmodulin was added in the medium, there was an inhibition of phosphorylation. The fully phosphorylated, but not unphosphorylated, caldesmon inhibited myosin light chain kinase activity. The possibility that protein kinase C plays some role in smooth muscle contractile system through caldesmon, warrants further attention.

S-100 protein and calmodulin levels in cerebrospinal fluid after subarachnoid hemorrhage

The levels of two calcium-binding proteins, S-100 protein and calmodulin, were measured serially in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and aneurysm surgery. These two proteins have a similar molecular structure and are highly concentrated in the central nervous system (CNS). The levels of S-100 protein found in the earliest postoperative CSF samples correlated with the preoperative SAH grades. High S-100 protein levels in the CSF were found in patients with poor SAH grades. Moreover, the prognosis of the patients correlated with the S-100 protein levels in the CSF samples taken during the immediate postoperative period and with the daily changes of the S-100 protein levels. Severe diffuse cerebral vasospasm was followed by a sharp S-100 protein increase. These results suggest that S-100 protein levels in the CSF provide a useful index of organic damage in the CNS, and furthermore that S-100 protein levels and their changes may have prognostic value for patients after SAH. On the other hand, there was a lack of correlation between the calmodulin levels and the preoperative grade or outcome. It would be inappropriate, however, to speculate from the results of this study that these calcium-binding proteins in the CSF play any causative role in pathological processes such as cerebral vasospasm or brain ischemia after SAH, since changes in the levels of these proteins followed the onset of clinical signs of deterioration.

Conformational studies of myosin phosphorylated by protein kinase C

Smooth muscle myosin from chicken gizzard is phosphorylated by Ca2+-activated phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C, as well as by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase, myosin light chain kinase (Endo, T., Naka, M., and Hidaka, H. (1982) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 105, 942-948). We have now demonstrated the effect of phosphorylation by protein kinase C on the smooth muscle myosin molecule. In glycerol/urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the 20,000-dalton light chain phosphorylated by protein kinase C co-migrated with that phosphorylated by myosin light chain kinase. Moreover, the light chain phosphorylated by both kinases migrated more rapidly than did the light chain phosphorylated by either myosin light chain kinase or protein kinase C alone. Myosin phosphorylated by protein kinase C formed a bent 10 S monomer while that phosphorylated by myosin light chain kinase was an unfolded and extended 6 S monomer in the presence of 0.2 M KCl. In addition, myosin phosphorylated by kinases had a sedimentation velocity of 7.3 S, thereby suggesting that the myosin was partially unfolded. The unfolded myosin was visualized electron microscopically. The fraction in the looped form was higher when for myosin phosphorylated by both kinases higher than for that phosphorylated by light chain kinase alone. Therefore, phosphorylation by protein kinase C does not lead to the change in myosin conformation seen with myosin light chain kinase.

Structural characterization of the calcium binding protein s100 from adipose tissue

A partial amino acid sequence for bovine adipose tissue S100 was elucidated by characterization of peptides generated by cyanogen bromide cleavage. The cyanogen bromide peptides were aligned by homology with the bovine brain S100 beta sequence. The results demonstrate that adipose S100 beta is probably identical to brain S100 beta, and suggest that S100 beta is a conserved protein among tissues of the same species.

Purification of cyclic adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase from human platelets using new-inhibitor Sepharose chromatography

Cilostamide derivatives are potent inhibitors of human platelet aggregation and selectively inhibit human platelet cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) phosphodiesterase. N-Cyclohexyl-N-(2-hydroxybutyl)-5-[6-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-oxoquinolyl oxy)] -butyramide (OPC-13135) is one of these derivatives, and the concentration of OPC-13135 producing 50% inhibition of human platelet aggregation induced by 2 micrograms/ml collagen was 5 microM. On the other hand, the concentrations of OPC-13135 producing 50% inhibition of human platelet cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cyclic GMP) phosphodiesterase were 0.073 and 21.8 microM, respectively. We purified over 480-fold the soluble low Km form of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from human platelets, using OPC-13135 Sepharose column as a final step in the purification procedure. The purified protein has a molecular weight of 175,000, determined by gel filtration and is an acidic protein, as determined by isoelectric focussing (pI = 4.9). Kinetic measurements indicated that the enzyme protein had a Km value for the substrate cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP of 0.34 and 0.11 microM respectively, and a Vmax value of 85.3 and 19.8 nmole/min/mg protein, respectively. Ki value of the OPC-13135 for the enzyme was 0.015 microM and was of competitive fashion against cyclic AMP.

Calcium-dependent hydrophobic chromatography of calmodulin, S-100 protein and troponin-C

We have demonstrated calcium-dependent hydrophobic interactions among calmodulin, S-100 protein and troponin-C and a homologous series of omega-aminoalkyl-agaroses. The three Ca2+-binding proteins were retained on the column of agarose substituted with omega- aminooctyl or even longer with alkylamine, in the presence of Ca2+ and 0.15 M NaCl. As these proteins were not retained on the column with shorter alkylamine 'arms' (N = 2, 4), they are probably successively absorbed with a higher affinity to the hydrophobic agarose column. Calmodulin and S-100 protein were eluted from the aminoocytl -agarose column with 1 mM EGTA in the presence of 0.15 M NaCl and the elution of troponin-C was Ca2+-independently carried out with 0.3 M NaCl. On the other hand, S-100 and troponin-C were eluted Ca2+-dependently from aminodecyl -agarose in the presence of 1 M NaCl and half the amount of the calmodulin applied was eluted with 1 M NaCl. As there are obvious differences among the three Ca2+-binding proteins with regard to chromatographic behavior on omega-aminoalkyl-agarose columns, our results suggest that these three proteins expose different hydrophobic regions following Ca2+-induced conformational changes and, if so, such would explain the interaction with aminoalkyl-agaroses.

A rapid separation of bovine brain S-100a and S-100b proteins and related conformation studies

S-100 protein absorbs to the calmodulin antagonist W-7 coupled to epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B in the presence of Ca2+ and is eluted by ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid buffer. S-100a and S-100b were separated and isolated by Ca2+-dependent affinity chromatography on W-7 Sepharose. The Ca2+-induced conformational changes of S-100a and S-100b were examined using circular dichroism, ultraviolet difference spectra, and a fluorescence probe. Differences in Ca2+-dependent conformational changes between S-100a and S-100b became apparent. Circular dichroism studies revealed that both S-100a and S-100b undergo a conformational change upon binding of Ca2+ in the aromatic and far-uv range. In the presence or absence of Ca2+, the aromatic CD spectrum of S-100a differed completely from that of S-100b, possibly due to the single tryptophan residue of S-100a. Far-uv studies indicate that alpha-helical contents of both S-100a and S-100b decreased with addition of Ca2+. Ca2+-induced conformational changes of S-100a and S-100b were also detected by uv difference spectra. The spectrum of S-100a also differed from that of S-100b. Fluorescence studies using 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate (TNS), a hydrophobic probe for protein, revealed a slight difference in conformational changes of these two components. The interaction of TNS and S-100b was observed with concentrations above 3 microM Ca2+; on the other hand, S-100a required concentrations above 8 microM. This finding was supported by the difference in the binding affinities of S-100a and S-100b to the W-7 (N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide)-Sepharose column; both S-100a and S-100b bound the column in the presence of Ca2+ but S-100a was eluted prior to S-100b. These results suggest that S-100a and S-100b differ in their dependence on Ca2+ and that the affinity-chromatographic separation of S-100a from S-100b on the W-7-Sepharose column makes feasible a rapid purification of these two components.

Purification and characterization of adipose tissue S-100b protein

We have purified S-100 protein from bovine brain using Ca2+-dependent affinity chromatography on N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7)-Sepharose (Endo, T., Tanaka, T., Isobe, T., Kasai, H., Okuyama, T., and Hidaka, H. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 12485-12489). By essentially the same procedure, W-7-Sepharose binding protein has been purified to apparent homogeneity from bovine abdominal adipose tissue. Electrophoretically, the purified protein from adipose tissue co-migrated with brain S-100b protein both in the presence and absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and the protein was indistinguishable from brain S-100b region in terms of amino acid composition, two-dimensional tryptic peptide mapping and reactivity with anti-brain S-100b serum. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the existence of S-100b protein in the adipose cell where the protein seems to be located in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Thus, the results indicate that the adipose cells contain the protein possibly identical with brain S-100b protein. In addition, the contents of S-100b protein in various rat tissues were measured by enzyme immunoassay method using the anti-bovine brain S-100b serum. Significant amounts of S-100b protein were found not only in the adipose tissue but also in the peripheral tissue such as trachea and skin. These observations suggest that S-100b protein should no longer be considered as a protein specific to nervous tissues.