Glycogen deposition in the liver induced by cortisone: dependence on enzyme synthesis

The deposition of liver glycogen in starved rats given a single dose of cortisone is inhibited by puromycin and actinomycin. The former agent interferes with induced enzyme formation in general, and the latter with the cortisone-induced rise in liver enzyme levels. The results suggest that the regulatory eJffect of cortisone on carbohydrate metabolism may be brought about -by its action on the cellular concentration of certain enzyme proteins.

REGULATORY MECHANISMS IN THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF ISOLEUCINE AND VALINE. 3. MAP ORDER OF THE STRUCTURAL GENES AND OPERATOR GENES

Ramakrishnan, T. (Yale University, New Haven, Conn.), and Edward A. Adelberg. Regulatory mechanisms in the biosynthesis of isoleucine and valine. III. Map order of the structural genes and operator genes. J. Bacteriol. 89:661-664. 1965.-A new method has been employed to determine the map order of the structural genes and operator genes governing the enzymes of the isoleucine-valine biosynthetic pathway. This method relies on the observation that phage transduction of markers carried on an F-genote leads to the establishment in the recipient of F-genotes of various lengths. Using this method, we have established that the order of loci is the following: F/ilvE ilvD ilvA oprA/ilvC/ilvB oprB. The operator locus, oprA, regulates the activity of structural genes ilvE (transaminase B), ilvD (dehydrase), and ilvA (threonine deaminase). The operator locus, oprB, regulates the activity of ilvB (condensing enzyme). An operator for ilvC (reductoisomerase) can be inferred to exist, but has not yet been detected genetically. The loci ilvB and oprB have been shown to be at the extreme right end of the sequence, but their positions relative to each other remain to be established.

PREPARATION OF PREPHENIC ACID AND ITS CONVERSION TO PHENYLALANINE AND TYROSINE BY PLANT ENZYMES

Enzymes from mung bean (Phaseolus aureus Roxb.) convert prephenic acid to phenylalanine and tyrosine. In addition to glutamate NADP was required for the production of tyrosine but no cofactor appeared necessary for the formation of phenylalanine. Prephenic acid was produced by growing the auxotroph, Escherichia coli, 58-278, in 20 liters of medium in fermenters at 30 °C. From 275 to 325 mg of prephenic acid was obtained per liter. The culture nitrates were concentrated, and the prephenic acid adsorbed and eluted from Dowex 1 resin and charcoal before being recovered in 40–50% yield as the crystalline barium salt.

REGULATORY MECHANISMS IN THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF ISOLEUCINE AND VALINE. II. IDENTIFICATION OF TWO OPERATOR GENES

Ramakrishnan, T. (Yale University, New Haven, Conn.), and Edward A. Adelberg. Regulatory mechanisms in the biosynthesis of isoleucine and valine. II. Identification of two operator genes. J. Bacteriol. 89:654-660. 1965.-A tightly clustered set of five structural genes governs the synthesis of the five enzymes of isoleucine and valine biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. Three of the genes governing transaminase B, dehydrase, and threonine deaminase, are controlled by a single operator locus, designated oprA. The structural gene governing the condensing enzyme is controlled by a second operator locus, designated oprB. Both oprA and oprB have been shown to regulate structural genes which are cis, but not trans, to their own operator. No mutations have yet been found which affect the level of reductoisomerase, but the existence of a third operator controlling the synthesis of this enzyme can be inferred. Enzyme derepression resulting from mutations in oprA confers resistance to high levels of valine. Derepression of the condensing enzyme resulting from mutations in oprB confers resistance to low levels of valine, and to alpha-aminobutyric acid. The significance of these findings with respect to the valine sensitivity of E. coli strain K-12 is discussed.

REGULATORY MECHANISMS IN THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF ISOLEUCINE AND VALINE. I. GENETIC DEREPRESSION OF ENZYME FORMATION

Ramakrishnan, T. (Yale University, New Haven, Conn.), and Edward A. Adelberg. Regulatory mechanisms in the biosynthesis of isoleucine and valine. I. Genetic derepression of enzyme formation. J. Bacteriol. 87:566-573. 1964.-A total of 60 mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 resistant to 10(-2)m valine were isolated from the valine-sensitive F' strain AB1206. Conjugation experiments showed that in five of these mutants the valine-resistance locus is closely linked to the structural genes governing isoleucine-valine biosynthesis. In these five valine-resistant mutants, three enzymes of the isoleucine-valine pathway were found to be coordinately derepressed: l-threonine deaminase, dihydroxy acid dehydrase, and transaminase B. Two other enzymes of this pathway, the condensing enzyme and the reductoisomerase, were unaffected. The mutation from valine-sensitivity to valine-resistance appears to have altered an operator locus, because the derepressed state is dominant over the repressed state in diploids heterozygous for the valine-resistance locus. The valine-resistant mutants excrete isoleucine into the medium. The significance of these findings with respect to the valine-sensitivity of E. coli K-12 and the regulation of the biosynthesis of isoleucine and valine by this organism are discussed.

THE PHOTOASSIMILATION OF SUCCINATE TO HEXOSE BY RHODOSPIRILLUM RUBRUM

1. A pathway for the synthesis of hexose from succinate by Rhodospirillum rubrum is proposed. 2. With 2,3-(14)C(2)-labelled succinate and fumarate as substrates in experiments with chromatophores and a soluble enzyme fraction of R. rubrum it was found that the products of succinate metabolism by the extracts were the same as in whole cells. It was also found that the light-dependent oxidation of succinate was catalysed by the chromatophores, but that all the other enzymes involved were in the soluble fraction. 3. By using specific assays the presence of all the enzymes required for the proposed pathway was demonstrated in the extracts and their specific activities were measured. 4. The overall rate of succinate assimilation was measured manometrically. The activities of the enzymes assayed were sufficient to account for the overall rate of assimilation. It is concluded that the proposed pathway represents the major mechanism for synthesis of hexose from succinate in R. rubrum. 5. The formation of alanine and aspartate was observed in experiments with isotopically labelled substrates, and possible synthetic pathways for these compounds are discussed.

FURTHER STUDIES ON THE REGULATION OF AMINO SUGAR METABOLISM IN BACILLUS SUBTILIS

1. Glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase [2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose 6-phosphate ketol-isomerase (deaminating), EC 5.3.1.10] of Bacillus subtilis has been partially purified. Its K(m) is 3.0mm. 2. Extracts of B. subtilis contain N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate deacetylase (K(m) 1.4mm), glucosamine 1-phosphate acetylase and amino sugar kinases (EC 2.7.1.8 and 2.7.1.9). 3. Glucosamine 6-phosphate synthetase (l-glutamine-d-fructose 6-phosphate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.16) is repressed by growth of B. subtilis in the presence of glucosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, N-propionylglucosamine or N-formylglucosamine. Glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase and N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate deacetylase are induced by N-acetylglucosamine. Amino sugar kinases are induced by glucose, glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine. The synthesis of glucosamine 1-phosphate acetylase is unaffected by amino sugars. 4. Glucose in the growth medium prevents the induction of glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase and of N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate deacetylase caused by N-acetylglucosamine; glucose also alleviates the repression of glucosamine 6-phosphate synthetase caused by amino sugars. 5. Glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase increases in bacteria incubated beyond the exponential phase of growth. This increase is prevented by glucose.

HISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF GAMMA GLUTAMYL TRANSPEPTIDASE ACTIVITY IN BONE MARROW AND BLOOD CELLS

The demonstration by a histochemical method of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase is described. In marrow and peripheral blood it has been found useful in differentiating between normal and leukaemic myeloblasts and between marrow (short-lived) lymphocytes and lymph node (long-lived) lymphocytes. The method may also be of value in differentiating between normal and neoplastic cells.