Changes in the activity of adenylate kinase isoenzymes in the ischemic rabbit heart

Under the influence of 1 hour myocardial ischemia activity of rabbit heart mitochondrial isoenzyme AK2 increased by 40%, but the activity of matrix isoenzyme AK3 decreased by 77%. No changes were found both in total adenylate kinase activity, and cytosolic isoenzyme AK1. The reasons of these alterations are not sufficiently clear. Apparently, they are related with functioning conditions of these isoenzymes in ischemic tissue.     

Phenobarbital-induced alterations in the activities of the transport and hydrolytic components of the glucose-6-phosphatase system in smooth and rough subfractions of the rat hepatic endoplasmic reticulum

We have examined the influence of the phenobarbital-induced proliferation of the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) on the activities of the components of the glucose-6-phosphatase system, i.e., the enzyme, the glucose-6-P translocase (T1), and the phosphate translocase (T2). Young male rats were injected ip twice daily for 4 days with 4 mg/100 g body wt of phenobarbital (PB) or an equivalent volume of saline solution. On the fifth day, the rats were killed and smooth (SER) and rough (RER) fractions of the ER were isolated from liver homogenates. Kinetic constants for glucose-6-P hydrolysis by the system and enzyme were determined and used to calculate the kinetic constants for glucose-6-P transport. T2 activity was approximated by assaying the pyrophosphatase activity at pH 6.0 in intact microsomes. Three times more SER protein was recovered from livers of PB-treated rats. PB-treatment did not alter total liver enzyme activity, but total liver T1 activity was decreased to 59% of the control value. Maximal specific activities of the system, enzyme and T1 were all reduced by PB treatment to 44% of control values in the RER and to 68% of control values in the SER. PB treatment reduced the apparent activity of T2 in RER and SER to 35 and 49% of the respective control values. In the SER from both groups of rats, T1 activity or apparent T2 activity divided by enzyme activity was about 55% of the corresponding ratio in the RER. Our analysis of these data suggests that the lower activities of T1 and T2 in the smooth ER are the results of suppression by some intrinsic component localized in the smooth membrane. Accordingly, the reduction in total liver T1 activity and, therefore, system activity in PB-treated rats reflects the redistribution of the glucose-6-P translocase from the RER to the more abundant SER membrane where it is less active. The possibility is discussed that a higher cholesterol content within the SER membrane is responsible for the lower transport activities.     

Identification of the changes in phospholipase C isozymes in ischemic-reperfused rat heart

Phospholipase C (PLC) influences cardiac function. This study examined PLC isozymes of the cardiac sarcolemma (SL) membrane and in the cytosol compartment in isolated perfused rat hearts subjected to global ischemia for 30 min followed by up to 30 min of reperfusion. Although the total SL PLC activity was decreased in ischemia and increased upon reperfusion, differential changes in PLC isozymes were detected. PLC beta(1) mRNA and SL protein abundance and activity were increased in ischemia, with concomitant decreases in activity and protein level in the cytosol. On the other hand, upon reperfusion, PLC beta(1) activity was decreased, but remained higher than control values. Although no change in the PLC delta(1) mRNA level in ischemia was detected, SL PLC delta(1) activity and content were depressed. Furthermore, in the cytosol, PLC delta(1) activity was increased, but the protein level decreased. SL PLC gamma(1) activity was decreased, independent of gene expression and protein content; however, decreases in the activity and protein abundance were detected in the cytosol. Increases in PLC gamma(1) and delta(1) activities occurred upon reperfusion, but were not accounted for by altered mRNA and protein levels. The results indicate that ischemia-reperfusion induces differential changes in PLC isozymes.     

Chimeric relaxin peptides highlight the role of the A-chain in the function of H2 relaxin

Human gene-2 (H2) relaxin is a member of the insulin-relaxin peptide superfamily. Because of the potential clinical applications of H2 relaxin, there is a need for novel analogs that have improved biological activity and receptor specificity. In this respect, we have chemically assembled chimeric peptides consisting of the B-chain of H2 relaxin in combination with A-chains from other insulin/relaxin family members. The peptides were prepared using solid phase peptide synthesis together with regioselective disulfide bond formation and characterized by RP-HPLC, MALDI-TOF MS and amino acid analysis. Their in vitro activity was assessed in RXFP1 or RXFP2 expressing cells. Replacement of the H2 relaxin A-chain resulted in parallel losses of binding affinity and activity on RXFP1. Not surprisingly H1A-H2B demonstrated the highest activity as the H1 A-chain shares high homology with H2 relaxin whereas INSLA-H2B, which shows low homology, had very poor activity. Importantly A-chain replacements had a dramatic effect on RXFP2 activity similar to previous results demonstrating different modes of activation of A-chain variants on RXFP1 and RXFP2. H3A-H2B is particularly interesting as it displays moderate activity at RXFP1 but poor activity at RXFP2 indicating that it may be a template for specific RXFP1 agonist development. Our study confirms that the activity of H2 relaxin at both RXFP1 and RXFP2 relies on interactions with both the B- and A-chains, and also provide new biochemical insights into the mechanism of relaxin action that the A-chain needs to be in native or near-native form for strong RXFP1 or RXFP2 agonist activity.     

The role of the first component of the bovine complement system in the haemolytic activity of a bovine derived lytic intermediate

A stable lytic intermediate (LI) which is lysed in the presence of guinea pig C3-C9, can be prepared from sensitized sheep erythrocytes (EA) and bovine serum. The lytic activity is destroyed by 0.01M EDTA at physiological ionic strength, but may be restored by partially purified bovine C1 or human C1 devoid of any C4 or C2 activity. The presence of C1 appears to be essential for the activity of the LI. Compounds such as DFP and PMSF which effectively inhibited the esterase activity of bovine C1 also inhibited the capacity of C1 to reform an active LI from the decayed lytic intermediate (DLI). The esterase inhibitors had no apparent effect on the active LI. Previous exposure of the DLI to DFP-inactivated C1 did not inhibit the subsequent and effective binding of active C1. It is suggested that the C1 forms an intimate and essential relationship with either or both of the C4 and C2 components for the activity of the bovine derived LI. This is supported by comparing the uptake of tritium labelled DFP-inactivated C1 by EA and the DLI.     

Comparison of the enzymatic properties of ent-copalyl diphosphate synthases in the biosynthesis of phytoalexins and gibberellins in rice

The rice genome contains two ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase genes: OsCPS1 acts in gibberellin (phytohormone) biosynthesis, and OsCPS2/OsCyc2 acts in the synthesis of oryzalexins A-F and phytocassanes A-E (phytoalexins). We characterized the enzymatic properties of recombinant OsCPS2/OsCyc2 fused with a tag-protein at the N-terminus, and compared them to those of OsCPS1. Several enzymatic properties of OsCPS2/OsCyc2, including the optimal pH, optimal temperature, divalent cation requirement, and kinetic values for the geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGDP) substrate, were almost the same as those of OsCPS1. However, OsCPS2/OsCyc2 activity was not inhibited by 50-60 muM GGDP substrate, by which the OsCPS1 activity was inhibited. Furthermore, the OsCPS1 activity exhibited approximately 70% inhibition by 100 muM Amo-1618 (a gibberellin biosynthetic inhibitor), whereas the OsCPS2/OsCyc2 activity exhibited approximately 10% inhibition. These results indicate that the properties of OsCPS2/OsCyc2 were partially different from those of OsCPS1, although OsCPS2/OsCyc2 catalyzes the same reaction step as OsCPS1.     

微嗜酸寡养单胞菌中的漆酶对黄曲霉毒素B1降解脱毒的生物活性

[目的]探究微嗜酸寡养单胞菌中的漆酶对AFB1的降解活性,并确定漆酶在菌株CW117降解代谢AFB1过程中的贡献.[方法]从微嗜酸寡养单胞菌基因组中,共筛选到两个漆酶基因lc1和lc2,并用大肠杆菌BL21外源表达蛋白rLC1和rLC2,在体外检测其对AFB1的降解活性.同时参考前人报道,研究了氧化性辅剂对漆酶AFB1...     

Characterization of the products of the genes SNO1 and SNZ1 involved in pyridoxine synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Genes SNO1 and SNZ1 are Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologues of PDX2 and PDX1 which participate in pyridoxine synthesis in the fungus Cercospora nicotianae. In order to clarify their function, the two genes SNO1 and SNZ1 were expressed in Escherichia coli either individually or simultaneously and with or without a His-tag. When expressed simultaneously, the two protein products formed a complex and showed glutaminase activity. When purified to homogeneity, the complex exhibited a specific activity of 480 nmol.mg(-1).min(-1) as glutaminase, with a Km of 3.4 mm for glutamine. These values are comparable to those for other glutamine amidotransferases. In addition, the glutaminase activity was impaired by 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine in a time- and dose-dependent manner and the enzyme was protected from deactivation by glutamine. These data suggest strongly that the complex of Sno1p and Snz1p is a glutamine amidotransferase with the former serving as the glutaminase, although the activity was barely detectable with Sno1p alone. The function of Snz1p and the amido acceptor for ammonia remain to be identified.     

Na_2SO_3对不同状态CF_1－ATPase活力的促进作用

Ｎａ２ＳＯ３对ＣＦ１－ＡＴＰａｓｅ活力的促进作用与酶所处状态有关。ＣＦ０降低ＣＦ１对Ｎａ２ＳＯ３的亲和力和Ｎａ２ＳＯ３促进的最大反应速率。在Ｎａ２ＳＯ３作用下,膜上ＣＦ１－ＡＴＰａｓｅ的活化能高于游离的。膜上和游离ＣＦ１－ＡＴＰａｓｅ的γ亚基上二硫键的还原可以提高Ｎａ２ＳＯ３对酶活力的促进作用。Ｎａ２ＳＯ３对甲醇活化的ＣＦ１－ＡＴＰａｓｅ活力的促进作用只有在甲醇活化的亚适浓度下才能充分表现出来。Ｎａ２ＳＯ３对Ｍｇ２＋抑制的解除作用因ＣＦ１－ＡＴＰａｓｅ处于不同活化状态而不同。     

Characterization of the novel protein kinase activity present in the R1 subunit of herpes simplex virus ribonucleotide reductase.

We have compared the protein kinase activities of the R1 subunits from herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) ribonucleotide reductase following expression in Escherichia coli. Autophosphorylation activity was observed when kinase assays were performed with immunoprecipitated R1 or proteins purified to homogeneity, and the activity was stimulated by the basic protein protamine. Transphosphorylation of histones or calmodulin by purified or immunoprecipitated HSV-1 and HSV-2 R1 was not observed, and our results suggest that the activities of these two proteins are similar. We further characterized the protein kinase activity of HSV-1 R1 by producing insertion and deletion mutants constructed with a plasmid expressing R1 amino acids 1 to 449. C-terminal deletion analysis identified the catalytic core of the enzyme as comprising residues 1 to 292, and this polypeptide will be useful for structural determinations by X-ray crystallography. Insertion of a 4-amino-acid sequence at sites within the protein kinase domain identified regions essential for activity; insertions at residues 22 and 112 completely inactivated activity, and an insertion at residue 136 reduced activity sixfold. Similar insertions at residues 257, 262, 292, and 343 had no effect on activity. The ATP analog 5'-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine, which covalently modifies conventional eukaryotic kinases at an essential lysine residue within the active site, did label HSV R1, but this labelling occurred outside the N-terminal domain. These data indicate that the HSV R1 kinase is novel and distinct from other eukaryotic protein kinases.     

Sequential expression of maternally inherited phosphoglycerate kinase-1 in the early mouse embryo

Enzyme activities of X-linked phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK-1) and autosomal glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI-1) were determined in intact mouse blastocysts and isolated inner cell masses (ICMs). Blastocysts were recovered from the uterus on day 4 of gestation and cultured overnight in vitro. ICMs were isolated by treatment with calcium ionophore A23187. On day 4, approximately 35% of the total activity of both PGK-1 and GPI-1 was located in the ICM. After overnight culture, the PGK-1 activity of the whole blastocyst nearly doubled, due to the activation of only the maternally derived gene coding for PGK-1. In the ICM, however, a pronounced decrease of PGK-1 activity was measured: only 10% of the total PGK-1 activity was measured in the ICM on day 5. In contrast to PGK-1, GPI-1 activity of the intact blastocyst remained stable from day 4 to day 5. In the ICM, the GPI-1 activity did decline, but to a lesser extent than PGK-1 activity: 20% of total GPI-1 activity was found in the ICM on day 5. These results, when compared with the data of Handyside and Hunter, suggest that the decline in GPI-1 activity in the ICM is due to a change in the ratio of trophectoderm (TE) to ICM cells. The greater reduction of PGK-1 activity in the ICM cannot, however, be explained solely by this mechanism. To explain the observed additional decrease, we postulate that Pgk-1 is not activated in the ICM prior to day 6. This implies that on day 4 maternal Pgk-1 is activated in the TE exclusively.     

Possible role of lipoprotein lipase in the regulation of endogenous triacylglycerols in the rat heart.

1. Adrenaline has a biphasic effect on intracellular lipoprotein lipase activity and on endogenous triacylglycerol content in heparin-perfused heart. 2. A high concentration of adrenaline (1 microM in the perfusion buffer) activated endogenous lipoprotein lipase activity and, at the same time, decreased intracellular triacylglycerol stores. 3. In contrast, a low concentration (0.005 microM-adrenaline) inhibited intracellular lipoprotein lipase activity. Under these conditions, cardiac triacylglycerol content was elevated above control values. 4. Perfusing the heart with high and low concentrations of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine elicited a biphasic effect on endogenous lipoprotein lipase activity and triacylglycerol content similar to that seen with adrenaline treatment. 5. The effect of adrenaline on intracellular lipoprotein lipase activity appears to be mediated by cyclic AMP through protein kinase. 6. A possible role for intracellular lipoprotein lipase in the regulation of endogenous triacylglycerol in rat heart is proposed.     

以融合蛋白形式在大肠杆菌中表达人MCP－1

将编码人单核细胞趋化蛋白－１（ＭＣＰ－１）的基因亚克隆到大肠杆菌表达载体ｐＥＸ３１Ａ中,在大肠杆菌中表达出ＭＳ２／ＭＣＰ－１融合蛋０白,该表达产物约占菌体总蛋白的１５％左右,Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ检测表明,表达产物可与ＭＣＰ－１抗体特异反应。采用琼脂糖平板法进行活性测定表明,表达产物具有明显的单核细胞趋化活性,说明Ｎ端融合一段细菌蛋白对ＭＣＰ－１有无趋化活性可能没有影响。     

Response of NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex to the alteration of CO2 concentration in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803

An NADPH-specific NDH-1 sub-complex was separated by native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and detected by activity staining from the whole cell extracts of Synechocystis PCC6803. Low CO2 caused an increase in the activity of this sub-complex quickly, accompanied by an evident increase in the expression of NdhK and PSI-driven NADPH oxidation activity that can reflect the activity of NDH-1-mediated cyclic electron transport. During incubation with high CO2, the activities of NDH-1 sub-complex and PSI-driven NADPH oxidation as well as the protein level of NdhK slightly increased at the beginning, but decreased evidently in various degrees along with incubation time. These results suggest that CO2 concentration in vitro as a signal can control the activity of NDH-1 complex, and NDH-1 complex may in turn function in the regulation of CO2 uptake.     

Molecular cloning in yeast by in vivo homologous recombination of the yeast putative alpha1 subunit of the voltage-gated calcium channel

Saccharomyces cerevisiae has only one gene encoding a putative voltage-gated Ca2+ channel pore-forming subunit, CCH1, which is not possible to be cloned by conventional molecular cloning techniques using Escherichia coli. Here, we report the successful cloning of CCH1 in yeast by in vivo homologous recombination without using E. coli. Overexpression of the cloned CCH1 or MID1 alone, which encodes a putative stretch-activated Ca2+ channel component, does not increase Ca2+ uptake activity, but co-overexpression results in a 2- to 3-fold increase. Overexpression of CCH1 does not substantially complement the lethality and low Ca2+ uptake activity of a mid1 mutant and vice versa. These results indicate that co-overproduction of Cch1 and Mid1 is sufficient to increase Ca2+ uptake activity.     

Heparin treatment of vascular smooth muscle cells results in the synthesis of the dual‐specificity phosphatase MKP‐1

The ability of heparin to block proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells has been well documented. It is clear that heparin treatment can decrease the level of ERK activity in vascular smooth muscle cells that are sensitive to heparin. In this study, the mechanism by which heparin induces decreases in ERK activity was investigated by evaluating the dual specificity phosphatase, MKP‐1, in heparin treated cells. Heparin induced MKP‐1 synthesis in a time and concentration dependent manner. The time‐course of MKP‐1 expression correlated with the decrease in ERK activity. Over the same time frame, heparin treatment did not result in decreases in MEK‐1 activity which could have, along with constitutive phosphatase activity, accounted for the decrease in ERK activity. Antibodies against a heparin receptor also induced the synthesis of MKP‐1 along with decreasing ERK activity. Blocking either phosphatase activity or synthesis also blocked heparin‐induced decreases in ERK activity. Consistent with a role for MKP‐1, a nuclear phosphatase, heparin treated cells exhibited decreases in nuclear ERK activity more rapidly than cells not treated with heparin. The data support MKP‐1 as a heparin‐induced phosphatase that dephosphorylates ERK, decreasing ERK activity, in vascular smooth muscle cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 110: 382–391, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

端粒酶活性调节的分子机制

人端粒酶由RNA亚基、hTERT催化亚基和hTEP1调节蛋白等组成。端粒酶对端粒结构的稳定起着重要的作用,而端粒结构和端粒结合蛋白也影响着端粒酶活性。某些化疗药物通过破坏端粒结构下调端粒酶活性。端粒酶的激活需要hTERT基因的从头转录和各个蛋白亚基正确装配为端粒酶全酶。端粒酶活性调节的分子机制包括：（1）TERT基因的表达和转录是决定端粒酶活性的重要环节,受多种因素调控;（2）蛋白激酶Cα和蛋白激酶B磷酸化端粒酶蛋白而激活端粒酶,蛋白磷酸酯酶2A（PP2A）可逆转这一过程,下调端粒酶活性;（3）多种癌基因和抑癌基因及其编码的蛋白质也直接或间接与端粒蛋白、端粒酶蛋白反应,参与端粒酶活性的调控。     

ERK1/2 controls Na,K-ATPase activity and transepithelial sodium transport in the principal cell of the cortical collecting duct of the mouse kidney

The collecting duct of normal kidney exhibits significant activity of the MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway as shown in vivo by immunostaining of phosphorylated active ERK1/2 (pERK1/2). The MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway controls many different ion transports both in proximal and distal nephron, raising the question of whether this pathway is involved in the basal and/or hormone-dependent transepithelial sodium reabsorption in the principal cell of the cortical collecting duct (CCD), a process mediated by the apical epithelial sodium channel and the basolateral sodium pump (Na,K-ATPase). To answer this question we used ex vivo microdissected CCDs from normal mouse kidney or in vitro cultured mpkCCDcl4 principal cells. Significant basal levels of pERK1/2 were observed ex vivo and in vitro. Aldosterone and vasopressin, known to up-regulate sodium reabsorption in CCDs, did not change ERK1/2 activity either ex vivo or in vitro. Basal and aldosterone- or vasopressin-stimulated sodium transport was down-regulated by the MEK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, in parallel with a decrease in pERK1/2 in vitro. The activity of Na,K-ATPase but not that of epithelial sodium channel was inhibited by MEK1/2 inhibitors in both unstimulated and aldosterone- or vasopressin-stimulated CCDs in vitro. Cell surface biotinylation showed that intrinsic activity rather than cell surface expression of Na,K-ATPase was controlled by pERK1/2. PD98059 also significantly inhibited the activity of Na,K-ATPase ex vivo. Our data demonstrate that the ERK1/2 pathway controls Na,K-ATPase activity and transepithelial sodium transport in the principal cell and indicate that basal constitutive activity of the ERK1/2 pathway is a critical component of this control.