[Studies on the mechanism of the diabetogenic activity of streptozotocin and on the ability of compounds to block the diabetogenic activity of streptozotocin (author's transl)].

The present study was undertaken to clarify the mechanism of the diabetogenic activity of streptozotocin. Experiments were conducted to determine the resistance of animals to the diabetogenic action of streptozotocin; to follow the time course of irreversible beta-cell damage, and to determine the influence on streptozotocin action of certain compounds. Streptozotocin, a broad spectrum antibiotic, with antitumoral properties, was shown to be diabetogenic in rats and mice, but not in cats, rabbits, or guinea pigs. Intravenous or intraperitoneal administration of 65 mg/kg body weight of streptozotocin to male Wistar rats evoked a tri-phasic blood sugar response. It induced an initial hyperglycemic peak with no apparent change in plasma insulin concentrations, followed by profound hypoglycemia caused by liberation of large amounts of insulin from the pancreas. Forty-eight hours after injection, the animals were completely diabetic. Light- and electron-microscopic exadminations during the first forty-eight hours after the injection of streptozotocin showed pyknosis, degranulation and marked degeneration of the beta-cells. 1egenerative and necrotic changes were also seen in a few alpha-cells. These streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats revealed polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia and glucosuria, and decreased body weight. Blood sugar, plasma FFA and insulin concentrations were examined after oral administration of glucose (OGTT: 3g/kg). Blood sugar and plasma FFA were significantly elevated but plasma insulin concentrations were markedly decreased, so insulin treatments were most effective in these animals. It has been reported that nicotinamide prevents the diabetogenic activity of streptozotocin and the deformity action of 6-aminonicotinamide and 3-acetylpridine. Pre-treatment with picolinamide, methyl-nicotinamide, and nicotinohydroxamic acid also blocked its diabetogenic action, but nicotinic acid, mannoheptulose and glucose were ineffective. N-nitrosodimethylamin and ethyl-N-nitrosomethylcarbamate were devoid of diabetogenicity. It seems that streptozotocin interfers with NAD formation in the beta-cell. Functioning pancreatic islets cell tumors were observed on the rats both at 407 days after streptozotocin administration and at 473 days after streptozotocin administration with nicotinamide (500 mg/kg, i.p.).


General dentistry and oral medicine in the hospital.

General dentistry in a hospital should not be confined to restorative dentistry happens to be performed in a hospital dental clinic. In addition to expertise in restorative dentistry and other dental specialties, general practitioners participating in hospital programs must also be students of two major areas-- diagnosis of diseases involving the head and neck as well as dental management of patients with severe medical disease. In the preceding short review a few examples of disorders about which the hospital dentist may be consulted were reviewed along with the proper protocol for requesting and answering consultations. This list is necessarily short and incomplete. A different group of disorders could have been discussed in this article. The competent hospital dentist must be a continual student of disease and its possible effect upon dental treatment and oral diagnosis. The task is formidable but rewarding and interesting.


Hormonal regulation of incorporation of alanine-U-14C into glucose in human fetal liver explants. Effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP, glucagon, insulin, and triamcinolone.

Incorporation of alanine-U-14C into glucose and liver glycogen increased linearly over sixty-five hours in culture of human fetal liver explants. This rate of incorporation was stimulated two- to tenfold by incubation with N6,2'O-dibutyryl adenosine 3'-5:cyclic monophosphate (dibutyryl cyclic AMP) (0.1 mM) plus theophylline (0.5 mM) or glucagon (7.5 mug./ml.) plus theophylline. No apparent lag period was detected, and the hormonal effect continued throughout the observation period. Insulin (1 U./ml.) significantly decreased both the basal rate of incorporation and the stimulated rate resulting from dibutyryl cyclic AMP or glucagon incubation. These effects were observed at both high (10mM) and low (2.8 mM) media glucose and from both 2.3 muM and 5 mM alanine-U-14C. Triamcinolone (20 mug./ml.) alone stimulated the rate of alanine-U-14C incorporation into glucose, whereas triamcinolone in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP produced an increase in incorporation greater than the sum of the individual effects. The basal incorporation of alanine-U-14C into glucose by these human fetal liver explants provide a rate of approximately 4 nmoles glucose/gm. min, which is discussed in relation to the physiologic needs of the fetus and newborn.


Insulin receptors in the heart muscle. Demonstration of specific binding sites and impairment of insulin binding in the plasma membrane of the obese hyperglycemic mouse.

The presence of insulin receptors in the heart muscle was investigated by measuring the binding of 125I-insulin to specific subcellular fractions of the rat and mouse myocardium. 125I-insulin bound to the plasma membrane fraction with a high degree of specificity and affinity. Insulin analogues competed with 125I-insulin in direct proportion to their biologic potency in vitro. Unlabeled insulin within the range of its concentrations in vivo inhibited 15 to 60 per cent of the 125I-insulin binding. The specific binding sites were finite in number and represented about 90 per cent of the total binding. The insulin-binding capacity of the plasma membrane fraction was twelve- to fifteenfold higher than that of the mitochondrial fraction. As in the liver, the binding was time- and temperature-dependent with a slower but higher binding achieved at a lower temperature. The binding sites appeared to be heterogeneous with respect to affinity. At 5 degrees C., the "higher-affinity" site had a K of about 2 times 10(9) M-1. No more than 10 per cent of the 125I-insulin was degraded by the heart plasma membranes after one hour at 30 degrees C. or twenty-two hours at 5 degrees C. Studies in the obese hyperglycemic (ob/ob) mouse revealed that the insulin binding is impaired in the heart muscle of this animal. Over a wide range of insulin concentrations, the plasma membrane fraction of ob/ob mice bound only 25 to 40 per cent as much insulin as did membranes of the thin littermates, suggesting that, as in the liver, the fat tissue, and the thymic lymphocyte, the number of insulin-binding sites is decreased in the heart of the ob/ob mouse. This defect selectively affected the plasma membrane fraction and could not be explained by differences in membrane purification or insulin-degrading activity. Heart and liver membranes of forty-hour fasted ob/ob mice bound two to three times as much insulin as did membranes of ob/ob mice fed ad libitum. These studies demonstrate and characterize the binding of insulin to heart muscle membranes; they extend to the heart muscle the insulin receptor defect also found in liver membranes and cells, in fat cell membranes, and in thymic lymphocytes of the ob/ob mouse.


Decreased cyclic AMP and insulin response to glucose in isolated islets of neonatal rats.

The (3H) cyclic AMP accumulation was measured in incubations of pancreatic islets from one-day, six-day, and thirty-five-day-old rats exposed to a low (0.6 mg./ml.) or a high (3.0 mg./ml.) glucose concentration with or without the addition of 0.1 mM. of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl- 1 -methylxanthine (IBMX). In the thirty-five-day-old rats, (3H) cyclic AMP accumulation was significantly enhanced after sixty minutes' incubation in a high glucose concentration and further increased by IBMX. These changes were paralleled by a stimulated insulin release, measured simultaneously. By contrast, in the one-day-old rats, no effect of glucose with or without IBMX was seen on (3H) cyclic AMP, while the minor insulin release due to high glucose alone was markedly potentiated by IBMX. Even in the presence of this agent the insulin response to glucose was, however, clearly inferior to that seen in the thirty-five-day-old animals. The stimulatory patterns of glucose-induced insulin release in the six-day-old animals was intermediate between the other two age groups. At this age, stimulation of (3H) cyclic AMP due to glucose was observed only in the presence of IBMX. Measurement of (3H) cyclic AMP after three minutes' incubation confirmed these different stimulatory patterns of glucose in the age groups studied. It is suggested that the inefficiency of glucose to stimulate the adenyl cyclase-cyclic AMP system of the beta cell from fetal and neonatal animals may be one important factor determining the insensitivity to the insulin-releasing action of glucose that exists at this stage of development.


Comparison of 125-I-insulin binding and degradation to isolated rat hepatocytes and liver membranes.

We have compared the ability of rat liver plasma membranes and isolated hepatocytes to bind and degrade insulin. Isolated cells were prepared in two different ways: by mechanical separation of cells and by collagenase digestion of extracellular matric. In all studies the binding and degradative characteristics of both types of hepatocyte preparations were identical. Furthermore, with one exception, the binding characteristics of membranes and cells were also quite similar. The only exception concerned the amount of insulin bound by hepatocytes as compared to liver membranes. Thus, at concentrations of cells (1.2 times 10(6) cells per milliliter) and membranes (150 mug. protein per milliliter) that gave equal binding at insulin concentrations less than 100 ng./ml., the amount of insulin specifically bound at insulin concentrations greater than 100 ng./ml. was greater with use of hepatocytes. Additional studies indicated that, in contrast to membranes, at the higher insulin concentration only 75 per cent of the previously bound insulin could be recovered from hepatocytes. Thus, a nondissociable component exists; which probably represents intracellular radioactivity and appears to account for the higher specific insulin binding by cells at higher insulin concentrations. When insulin degradation was studied at the above hepatocyte and plasma membrane concentrations, cells degraded 30 per cent more insulin than did membranes. Kinetic analysis of these data revealed that the Km for insulin degradation (5 times 10(-7) M at 37 degrees) was the same for both systems wereas the Vmax was greater with use of hepatocytes. (1) Preparation of hepatocytes by collagenase digestion does not appear to alter insulin binding or degradation; (2) studies of liver membranes and isolated hepatocytes obtained from normal rats should yield similar information about insulin-receptor interaction as long as insulin concentrations less than 100 ng./ml. are used; (3) at very high insulin concentrations, some of the radioactivity appears to enter the cells; (4) the kinetics of insulin degradation by hepatocytes and liver membranes are similar; and (5) insulin degradation appears to be primarily a membrane phenomenon.


Infantile polyneuropathy with defective myelination: an autopsy study.

A case is reported of a boy who developed a severe polyneuropathy in early infancy and died of respiratory failure at the age of 18 months. Autopsy revealed almost total lack of myelin sheaths in the cranial, spinal and peripheral nerves. The defect involved the entire peripheral nervous system and was confined to it, central myelination being normal. It is suggested that this case is another example of the condition described by Lyon (1969) and by Kennedy et al. (1971) in which pathological observations were confined to biopsy material. In spite of some similarities between these cases and those of hypertrophic neuropathy reported by Déjerine and Sottas in 1893, they seem to form a distinct sub-group, possibly even a separate entity: infantile polyneuropathy with defective myelination.


Studies on growth hormone secretion. VII. Effects of somatostatin on plasma GH, insulin, and glucagon in sheep.

To determine whether synthetic somatostatin originally isolated from sheep hypothalamus can inhibit hormone secretion in the same species, we measured plasma levels of GH, insulin, glucagon, and glucose of normal sheep under a variety of experimental conditions in the presence and absence of somatostatin infusion. An oral dose of 2.5 mg./kg. 3,5-dimethypyrazole increase plasma GH from 10.9 to 376.9 ng. per milliliter, which was suppressed by 50 per cent and 80 per cent with 0.5 and 1 mg. synthetic cyclic somatostatin, respectively. Linear somatostatin (0.5 mg.) was without effect in two animals tested. Propionate (0.5 mmole per kilogram) and arginine (10 gm.) induced a rise in plasma insulin and GH, and glucagon was effectively blocked by cyclic somatostatin (0.5 mg.). Similarly, somatostatin inhibited glucose, and glucagon provoked GH and insulin secretory responses without affecting glucose or FFA levels. Somatostatin had no effect on the disappearance of injected glucagon. Finally, addition of somatostatin to incubation media prevented PGE promoted GH release, and suppressed cyclic AMP accumulation, although to a lesser extent, in sheep anterior pituitary pieces. In view of the large amounts required to suppress stimulated hormone release and the general lack of specificity of somatostatin, it is suggested that this peptide may have a functional role only in the release of hormones of the pituitary, where it could occur in relatively high local concentrations. Its inhibition of extrapituitary hormone secretion may be purely a pharmacologic effect that, nevertheless, suggests an interference with a step common to the secretory process of hormones.


On the pathogenesis of duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The relative merits of the three presently most active hypotheses (vascular, neurogenic, and myogenic) concerning the pathogenesis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy are analysed and discussed and the literature is comprehensively reviewed.


Aldolase isoenzymes in liver cirrhosis and primary liver cell cancer.

The isoenzymatic pattern of aldolase was determined by immunoprecipitation with specific anti-aldolase A, B and C sera in 21 pathological liver tissues and in the sera of normals (n equals 20), liver cirrhotics (n equals 52) and hepatoma patients (n equals 22). The increase of aldolase A in primary liver cell carcinoma is not reflected in the sera of these patients, cannot be used for diagnostic purposes and is not hepatoma-specific.


Transplantation immunity of rats induced by hepatoma cells treated with heteroantibody.

Tumor cells from rat hepatomas, AH-414 and AH-64A induced by azo dye, were preincubated in vitro with different dilutions of rabbit anti-hepatoma serum. Then 10(6) cells were inoculated intraperitoneally into Donryu rats. After 6 weeks, rats surviving without tumors showed resistance to further challenge with the same tumor cells. The ratio of the number of surviving rats after challenge with 10(5) fresh tumor cells to those surviving after inoculation with serum-treated tumor cells was maximal using dilutions of antiserum of 1:240 with AH-414 tumor cells and of 1:400 with AH-64A cells. Pooled sera from AH-64A-resistant rats, 2 weeks after a 3rd challenge with 10(7) fresh tumor cells (RRS Lot III), had a cytotoxic effect on AH-64A cells at dilutions of up to 1:64 while sera isolated after the 1st or 2nd challenge (RRS Lot I or II) were weakly cytotoxic. The cytotoxicity was complement-dependent and stable on heating at 56 degrees for 30 min. RRS Lot III was active in the indirect immunofluorescence test. Rabbit anti-rat liver serum did not induce resistance to AH-64A in Donryu rats although the dilutions used had the same immune adherence or cytotoxic titer as rabbit anti-hepatoma serum. Rabbit anti-Donryu rat hepatoma serum failed to induce resistance to cells of a 3-methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma, AMC 60, of ACI/N rats. The correlation between the immune adherence and cytotoxic titers of the rabbit antiserum and its effectiveness in sensitizing the animals against tumor cells is discussed.


The effect of age on mitochondrial enzymes and respiration.

There was no significant difference between the levels of cytochrome oxidase and malate dehydrogenase in whole liver homogenates or in mitochondria isolated from the livers of 6-month-old and 30-month-old C57/BL mice. Little change with age was found in the cytochemical localisation of either enzyme. There were no significant changes in endogenous, state III or state IV respiration of mitochondria isolated from the livers of young and old mice.


Nonlanguage disorders of speech reflect complex neurologic apparatus.

The mute or nearly mute patient who is alert and has good understanding of speech and a right hemiparesis could have Broca's aphasia, akinesia of speech (transcortical motor aphasia), or aphemia. The patient who has Broca's aphasia does not write well, and his speech does not improve greatly with repetition. The speech of a patient with akinesia of speech improves with repetition. The aphemic patient writes normally, but his speech does not improve with repetition. The mute patient whose eyes are open but who is poorly responsive and moves little or not at all could be an akinetic mute (with either a cingulate or a thalamomesencephalic lesion) or have a locked-in syndrome. The latter is diagnosed by asking the patient to look up and down or to open and close his eyes. If he obeys these commands, the physician questions him using a code of eye movement responses. If the patient fails to respond at all, he is an akinetic mute; intense stimulation may result in speech or movement. If the patient is drowsy and has third nerve involvement, the lesion is in the thalamomesencephalic reticular formation. If the patient appears alert and has episodes of agitation, he probably has bilateral lesions in the gyri cinguli. Patients with weakness of the bulbar musculature (facial, palatal, and tongue weakness and dysphonia) may have either upper motor neuron or lower motor neuron lesions. Only bilateral upper motor neuron lesions produce permanent dysarthria. As a typical example, a patient has a transient left hemiparesis with dysarthria and almost completely recovers. Later, however, a right hemiparesis develops and the patient experiences severe bilateral facial weakness, drooling, dysphagia, and severe dysarthria. The absence of atrophy of the bulbar musculature, a hyperactive jaw jerk and gag reflex and, sometimes, inappropriate laughing or crying episodes indicate that the lesion is located above the medulla in the corticobulbar tracts. Flaccid paralysis, absence of the jaw jerk or gag reflex, and absence of other upper motor neuron signs, such as upgoing toes, indicate a lower motor neuron or neuromuscular junction problem. Appropriate tests to rule out myasthenia gravis should be done. The other conditions discussed here are often obvious from their clinical presentation. Although the specific disorder of speech sometimes is helpful in localizing the cause, in most patients, the associated deficits on neurologic examination are of greatest value.


[Effect of [ethyl p-(6-guanidinohexanoyloxy)benzoate] methanesulfonate (FOY) on kinin formation and fibrinolysis activity].

Inibitory effects of [Ethyl p-(6-guanidinohexanoyloxy)benzoate] methanesulfonate (FOY) on kinin formation (in vitro and in vivo) and the fibrinolytic activity (in vivo) were examined and compared with otherinhibitors. Inhibitory effect on kinin forming activity (in vitro) of various enzymes was measured in the guinea pig ileum. FOY and Trasylol inhibited the kinin forming activities of trypsin, pancreas kallikrein and plasma kallikrein. Soybean trypsin inhibitor inhibited kinin like substance was formed in the perfusate when the rat's paw was heated at 46 degrees C. FOY and T-asylol added to the perfusion fluid produced a potent inhibition of the formation of bradykinin-like substance. When administered i.v., FOY and Trasylol did not inhibit the formation of bradykinin-like substance. In the dog, activation of plasmin in the circulatory blood and increase of hemorrhagic tendency were caused by the i.v. administration of human serum plus streptokinase. Such responses were inhibited with a previous i.v. infusion of FOY and t-AMCHA. From the above findings, it may be concluded that FOY has inhibitory effects on kinin formation and fibrinolytic activity.


Differential effects of chlorpromazine, imipramine, nitrazepam and amobarbital on REM sleep and REM density in man.

The effect of chlorpromazine (CPZ), imipramine (IMP), nitrazepam (NZP) and amobarbital sodium (AMOB) on the REM period of sleep (REMP) was investigated on four subjects by means of all-night sleep polygraphy with the schedule PPPDDDPP where P is placebo and D active drug.  CPZ 25 mg resulted in a slight increase in %REMP, and no significant change in REM density (1 second fraction method) and total REM activity during the drug and withdrawal nights.  IMP 25 mg produced moderate decrease in %REMP in the three drug nights, whereas REM density decreased only in the first drug night.  NZP 5 mg resulted in a slight parallel suppression of %REMP, REM density and total REM activity during the drug nights.  AMOB 200 mg produced a slight decrease in %REMP and marked decrease in REM density during the drug nights.  Rebound increase of %REMP and a tendency of carry over decrease of REM density were observed in the withdrawal nights.  Decrease in the REM density was more marked in AMOB than in NZP drug night.  The importance of the simultaneous analysis of %REMP and REM density for the study of effects of psychotrophic drugs on sleep was emphasized.


[The angiographic findings in focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver(author's transl)].

Four cases of FNH are described; the angiographic appearances are detailed and problems in differential diagnosis are discussed.  FNH presents as a hypervascular benign space-occupying process in the liver, with a typical vascular structure and intensive prolonged and sharply demarcated parenchymal staining.  It can be distinguished from malignant lesions in the liver by the absence of tumour vessels, infiltration and occlusion of vessels.


[The clinical features and diagnosis of glomus tumours (author's transl)].

The symptoms of chemodectomas are described briefly and the literature reviewed. Two cases are presented; of these, one was a typical glomus jugulare tumour, the other an unusual metastasising glomus tumour. The role of radiological diagnosis is discussed and the value of angiography is stressed. Some suggestions regarding treatment are also made.


[Out-patient treatment and prognosis schizophrenic patients after first hospitalization (author's transl)].

99 schizophrenic patients from the General Mental Hospital in Göttingen who had received hospital treatment for the first time, where, after their discharge from hospital, studied for a period of 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years. Information was collected with regard to the further progress of the disease on the one hand, and the response to drugs used in treatment on the other. Less than half the patients who had suffered from the disease from several years without receiving any out-patient treatment could not be helped or cured by the following hospital treatment. Over half of them had to be readmitted to hospital at last once (mostly within one year). A persisting or newly developing illness could be ascertained by catamnestic means in about 2/3 of the patients. The post-hospital treatment was left predominantly to the GP. Psycho-social help was generally lacking. Drugs were used regulary as far as could be ascertained in only 1/5 of the patients. In most cases the after-care was stopped after several months. This data shows that the treatment before, during and after hospitalization was in many cases inadequate. For different reasons the therapeutical possibilities hat not been used to their full extent. Due to the strict separation between the out-patient and hospital therapy the schizophrenic patients received treatment too late, for too short a time, and not suited usually to their individual needs.


Effects of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate and guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate on 3H-uridine incorporation into glomerulosal cells of hypophysectomized rat adrenal cortex.

The effects of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP on the incorporation of 3H-uridine into glomerulosal cells of hypophysectomized rats were investigated by high resolution autoradiography. The quantitative analysis of autoradiographs shows that cyclic nucleotides, like ACTH, enhance the tracer incorporation into both nuclear and mitochondrial compartments. These findings are discussed in relation to previous results indicating that both cyclic nucleotides function as intracellular mediators of the trophic action of ACTH on the rat adrenal zona glomerulosa. The hypothesis that the mechanism of the glomerulotrophic action of ACTH and cyclic nucleotides involves the stimulation of nuclear and mitochondrial RNA synthesis is discussed.


The differential effect of cholera toxin on the lymphocyte stimulation induced by various mitogens.

BALB/c spleen cells (5 x 10(6)) were cultured in 1 ml of serum-free RPMI 1640 medium for 3 days in order to examine the effect of cholera enterotoxin (CN) and its spontaneously formed toxoid (CD) on lymphocyte stimulation. Stimulation was assessed after addition of [3H] thymidine for the last 16 hours of culture. One microgram of CN per culture markedly reduced the baseline of [3H] thymidine incorporation and the stimulation due to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (con A) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). One microgram of CD diminished the base-line to half, abolished the response to PHA, reduced the response to con A and had very little effect on the LPS-induced stimulation. One-tenth the amount (0-1 mug) of both CN and CD affected only the PHA reaction. A secondary response to haemocyanin in vitro was not decreased by this lower dose. The effect of 1 mug on CN on the LPS response could be reduced by pretreatment of the cells with CD, whereas the PHA reaction remained markedly diminished. Dibutyryl-cAMP added to culture tubes had a similar effect ot 1 mug of CN, affecting the PHA response much more than the response to LPS. Spleen cells of mice immunized with CD gave a significant proliferative response to both 1 mug of CD and CN. The results are interpreted as indicating a strong inhibitory effect of CN mediated by accumulation of intracellular cAMP. CD-immunized cells contain specific receptors for both CD and CN which probably compete with the sites responsible for adenylate cyclase stimulation by CN.


Sensitive assay for detection of toxin-induced damage to the cytoplasmic membrane of human diploid fibroblasts.

A sensitive assay was developed for detection and quantitation of subtle permeability changes in the cytoplasmic membrane of human diploid fibroblasts. Release of the non-metabolizable amino acid [1-14C]alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB; molecular weight (103) from the cytoplasm of prelabeled cells was used as an indicator of toxin-induced membrane damage. An optimal procedure for labeling these cells was designed after varying the conditions with regard to pH, temperature, concentration of AIB, composition of medium, and incubation time. Toxin-induced release of AIB was compared with release of a previously described nucleotide label, [3H]uridine. Melittin from bee venom and the polyene antibiotics filipin and amphotericin B in low concentrations induced a strikingly greater release of AIB than of nucleotide label. The sensitivity of this assay was furthermore demonstrated by treatment with the following bacterial cytolysins: phospholipase C and theta-toxin from Clostridium perfringens, alpha-, beta-, delta-, and gamma-toxins from Staphylococcus aureus, and streptolysin S from Streptococcus pyogenes. In spite of their different modes of action, all these membrane-active toxins at low concentrations induced a significant release of AIB label. For an equal release of nucleotide label, several times higher concentrations were required.


Rabbit corneal damage produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.

Gross, light microscopic, and electron microscopic examination of the rabbit corneal destruction produced by experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections revealed a combination of acute inflammation and liquefaction necrosis of the cornea. Degeneration of the epithelial cells and the start of polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration of the cornea occurred initially. These changes were followed by loss of the epithelium, degeneration and loss of the keratocytes and endothelium, loss of the characteristic weblike pattern of the proteoglycan ground substance, dispersal of ultrastructurally normal collagen fibrils, extensive accumulation followed by degeneration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and accumulation of plasma proteins and fibrin in the necrotic cornea. Histochemical examination of the cornea suggested a loss of the proteoglycan ground substance but not of collagen. Rabbit corneas injected with Clostridium histolyticum collagenase showed gross and cellular changes similar to those observed during the pseudomonal infections; however, histochemical examination suggested a loss of collagen, and electron microscopy revealed ultrastructurally abnormal collagen fibrils. The results support the idea (i) that a bacterial or host-derived collagenase is not required for extensive corneal damage during a P. aeruginosa corneal infection, and (ii) that a P. aeruginosa corneal infection may severly damage the cornea by producing extensive corneal edema and by causing the loss of the corneal proteoglycan ground substance, thus resulting in dispersal of undamaged collagen fibrils, weakening of the cornea, and subsequent descemetocele formation and corneal perforation by the anterior chamber pressure.


Hormonal regulation of drug metabolism during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, a significant change has been found in the pattern of liver response to drugs. The activity of drug-metabolizing enzymes was inhibited due to the presence of increased amounts of reduced progesterone metabolites produced by the pregnant animal. Treatment of non-pregnant rats with 5alpha-pregnan-3beta-ol-20-one or 5alpha-pregnan-3beta,20beta-diol also caused a decreased drug hydroxylation. On the other hand, the administration of 16alpha-hydroxyprogesterone resulted in an increased activity. The contrasting effects of the different steroids on the function of the endoplasmic reticulum have shown correlation with changes in microsomal phospholipid synthesis. Reduced progesterone derivatives brought about a decrease, whereas hydroxyprogesterone an enhancement. The opposite actions provided evidence to postulate that during pregnancy the formation of endoplasmic reticulum and associated induction processes of drug metabolism might be regulated by a balance displayed in the production of various progesterone metabolites.


Studies on the action of hormones on the intestinal transport of L-histidine.

Intestinal absorption of L-histidine as affected by insulin, diabetes, hydrocortisone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and thyroxine has been studied. Intestinal absorption of L-histidine is not significantly increased following insulin administration. Similarly, addition of insulin in vitro did not change the transport activity significantly. When rats are made diabetic on administration of alloxan monohydrate, the transport activity is increased. Hydrocortisone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone and thyroxine treatment increased the absorption of L-histidine by small intestine. However, addition in vitro of ACTH and hydrocortisone did not change the absorption of L-histidines by small intestine. It appears that the facilitative action of these hormones is not due to their direct action of the membrane.


Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate analogue increases the outflow facility of the primate eye.

Our previous studies showed that cyclic-AMP increases the outflow facility of the eye of the rabbit. In this investigation, an analogue of cyclic-AMP, the 8-methylthio derivative, perfused into the anterior chamber of the eye of the vervet monkey, increased outflow facility twofold. This observation supports the hypothesis that cyclic-AMP mediates the action of adrenergic agents to reduce intraocular pressure in the primate eye.


Tracheobronchial resection and reconstruction.  A report of five cases.

During the past six years, five patients have undergone tracheal or tracheobronchial reconstruction in our Department.  In three patients, a segmental tracheal resection was performed because of post-tracheostomy stricture or cylindroma of the trachea.  Two patients were treated for a carcinoid type of bronchial adenoma--one by sleeve resection of an intermediate bronchus and one by pneumonectomy with partial resection and reconstruction of part of the trachea.  The exact location, length and nature of the lesions were demonstrated by endoscopy, tomography and tracheobronchography.  The surgical and anesthetic problems associated with tracheobronchial reconstruction are discussed.


Estrogen treatment of excessively tall girls.

40 excessively tall girls with a mean height prediction of 182 cm were treated for serious psychosocial reasons continuously with ethinylestradiol 0.3 mg daily and with norethisterone 10 mg daily for 5-7 days every 4th week. Their age at the start of treatment ranged from 9.4 to 13.8 years, and the mean duration of treatment was 1.7 years. Bone age was assessed according to the TANNER-WHITEHOUSE-II (RUS) method, and height predictions were calculated using the age-specific regression equations of TANNER et al. Results were compared with those in 9 untreated control cases. Mean reduction of predicted height in all patients was 4.6 +/- 2.4 cm, and the most marked reduction was found in the youngest group of patients. However, even in patients after menarche and with a bone age above 14 years at start of treatment, there was still a considerable reduction of adult height. Bone maturation was accelerated by treatment (1.4 years per year), and the most marked acceleration was observed during the first 6 months (1.7 years per year). Growth velocity was normal or slightly subnormal during the first 6 months and very low thereafter. During treatment, there was a considerable weight gain which was, in part, lost again when treatment was discontinued. Posttherapeutic amenorrhea was infrequent, and normal and regular menstruations reappeared in the majority of the patients about 1 month after discontinuation. It is concluded that estrogen treatment in high doses is effective in reducing adult stature in girls and that somatic and psychological side effects are minimal when treatment is started after onset of spontaneous puberty. Although early treatment tends to give better results, beneficial results may still be obtained in older patients.


Isolation and characterization of Clostridium perfringens mutants altered in both hemagglutinin and sialidase production.

The relationship between the production of hemagglutinin and sialidase activities by Clostridium perfringens was investigated by screening for mutants producing reduced levels of hemagglutinin activity. Twelve mutants were isolated; all produced reduced levels of sialidase activity and several had other altered phenotypic markers. Revertants that regained the ability to produce active hemagglutinin were isolated. All of these revertants produced increased sialidase activity. These results show that the production of hemagglutinin activity is directly related to the production of sialidase activity. Evidence is also presented that the processes of sporulation and the production of extracellular proteins are interrelated.


Pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway of Baccillus subtilis.

Biochemical and genetic data were obtained from a series of 51 Pyr- strains of Bacillus subtilis. The observed enzymatic deficiencies allowed the mutants to be placed into 12 clases, some of which represent defects in more than one of the six known pyrimidine biosynthetic enzymes. Mapping analysis by transformation has shown that all the Pyr- mutations are located in a single small area of the B. subtilis genome. A correlation of the biochemical defects and the genetic data has been made. Those mutations conferring similar enzymatic deficiencies were found to be contiguous on the B. subtilis map. Regulatory aspects of the pyrimidine pathway have also been investigated and are compared to previously reported results from other organisms. Evidence is presented which bears upon the possible physical association of the first three enzymes and the association of at least some of the enzymes of this pathway with particulate elements of the cell. A model for the organization of the enzymes is presented with dihydroorotate dehydrogenase as the central enzyme in a proposed aggregate.


Effects of varying the carbon source limiting growth on yield and maintenance characteristics of Escherichia coli in continuous culture.

The magnitudes of Yo (grams [dry weight] formed per gram of atom O) and mo, the maintenance respiration (milligram-atoms of O per gram [dry weight] per hour), of Escherichia coli B have been determined by growing the organism in aerobic continuous culture limited by a number of different substrates. The value found were as follows: glucose--tyo = 12.5, mo = 0.9; glucose plus 2.7 mM cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)--Yo = 31.2, mo = 9.3; galactose--Yo = 13.2, mo = 1.8; mannitol--Yo = 20.1, mo = 6.1; L-glutamate--Yo = 25.5, mo = 17.7; glycerol--Yo = 14.9, mo = 10.0; succinate--Yo = 11.2, mo = 12.1; and acetate--Yo = 14.7, mo = 25.4. During growth in anaerobic continuous culture with limiting glucose YATP was found to be 10.3 g (dry weight)/mol of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and m ATP was 18.9 mmol of ATP/g (dry weight) per h. The aerobic growth yields of cells growing on glucose, glucose plus cAMP, mannitol, and glutamate were consistent with the hypothesis that carbohydrates partially repress oxidative phosphorylation, but the yields of cells growing on glycerol, succinate, acetate, and galactose were all lower than expected. We conclude that, like the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation, both the maintenance respiration and the amount of ATP necessary to serve maintenance processes are determined by the identity of the growth substrates. Yields smaller than expected may be explained by the absence of respiratory control exerted by phosphate acceptors.


Two modes of excision repair in toluene-treated Escherichia coli.

In toluene-treated Escherichia coli incision breaks accumulate during post-irradiation incubation in the presence of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP). It is shown that incised deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is converted to high-molecular-weight DNA during reincubation in the presence of the four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTP's) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). This restitution process is ATP independent and N-ethylmaleimide insensitive and takes place only in polA+ strains. It is defective in strains carrying a mutation in the 5' leads to 3' exonucleolytic activity associated with DNA polymerase I. Repair of accumulated incision breaks differs from repair in which all the steps of the excision repair process occur simultaneously or in rapid succession. The latter is observed if toluene-treated E. coli are incubated immediately after irradiation in the presence of the four dNTP's, NAD, and ATP. It is shown that under these conditions dimer excision occurs to a larger extent than during repair of accumulated incision breaks and that, except in strains defective in polynucleotide ligase, incision breaks do not accumulate. This consecutive mode of repair is detectable in polA+ strains and at low doses also in polA mutants.


Transient repression of catabolite-sensitive enzyme synthesis elicited by 2,4-dinitrophenol.

Transient inhibition of catabolic enzyme synthesis in Escherichia coli occurred when a low concentration of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) was simultaneously added with inducer. Using mutant strains defective for gamma-gene product or constitutive for lac enzymes, it was found that the inhibition is not due to the exclusion of inducer by uncoupling. The addition of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate overcame repression. The components of the lac operon coordinately responded to DNP inhibition. From deoxyribonucleic acid-ribonucleic acid hybridization experiments, it was found that the inhibition of beta-galactosidase induction occurred at the level of messenger ribonucleic acid synthesis specific for the lac operon. It seems probable that DNP represses induction in a similar manner to that of transient repression observed upon the addition of glucose. Furthermore, it was found that transient repression disappeared if cells were preincubated with DNP before induction. This indicates that new contact of cells with DNP is obligatory for transient repression. From these results, it is suggested that the cell membrane may be responsible for regulation of catabolite-sensitive enzyme synthesis.


pyrR identical to pyrH in Salmonella typhimurium: control of expression of the pyr genes.

Mutants of Salmonella typhimurium showing constitutive synthesis of the pyrimidine biosynthetic enzymes coded for by the pyrA-F genes (G. A. O'Donavan and J. C. Gerhart, 1972) have been reinvestigated. The high rate of expression of the pyrB-F genes in these mutants as well as their pyrimidine excretion is shown to be due to mutations in the gene pyrH encoding uridine 5'-monophosphate kinase. Thus, the term pyrR used for these mutants should be replaced by the designation pyrH.


Tryptophan biosynthesis in Salmonella typhimurium: location in trpB of a genetic difference between strains LT2 and LT7.

Salmonella typhimurium prototrophs carrying a trpR mutation synthesize tryptophan biosynthetic enzymes constitutively. When feedback inhibition of anthranilate synthetase but not 5'-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase activity was by-passed by growing cells on media supplemented with anthranilic acid, all trpR prototrophs overproduced and excreted tryptophan. However, the rate of tryptophan production depended on both the ancestry of the trpR strain and the integrity of its trpA gene. Prototrophs with trp genes derived from S. typhimurium strain LT2 produced tryptophan more efficiently than those with trp genes derived from strain LT7. This strain difference was cryptic insofar as it did not affect the growth rate; it was revealed only as a rate-limiting step in the constitutive biosynthesis of tryptophan in the presence of anthranilic acid, and was due to a lesion in the LT7-derived trpB gene. Strains with LT7-derived trp genes bearing a deletion in trpA produced tryptophan as readily as LT2 trpR prototrophs. This indicated that LT7-specific 5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase must be aggregated with the trpA gene produce to give an observable reduction of constitutive tryptophan production. The discovery of this strain difference has particular implications for studies involving the activities of trpA and B genes and their products in S. typhimurium and may have general significance for other studies involving different strains of Salmonella.


Kinetics of the onset of catabolite repression in Escherichia coli as determined by lac messenger ribonucleic acid initiations and intracellular cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate levels.

The rates of synthesis of beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) and the intracellular levels of cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) soon after the addition of glucose or glycerol to exponentially growing cultures of Escherichia coli have been determined. Within 10 s of its addition, glucose, but not glycerol, lowered the apparent initiation frequency of lac messenger ribonucleic acid. The glucose-generated reduction in initiations is identified as catabolite repression by its reversibility with cAMP. The intracellular cAMP levels respond virtually identically to glucose and glycerol additions. Thus, no correlation was observed between the rate of messenger ribonucleic acid initiation and the level of cAMP.


A kinetic study of the alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complexes from pig heart mitochondria.

The kinetic mechanisms of the 2-oxoglutarate and pyruvate dehydrogenease complexes from pig heart mitochondria were studied at pH 7.5 and 25 degrees. A three-site ping-pong mechanism for the actin of both complexes was proposed on the basis of the parallel lines obtained when 1/v was plotted against 2-oxoglutarate or pyruvate concentration for various levels of CoA and a level of NAD+ near its Michaelis constant value. Rate equations were derived from the proposed mechanism. Michaelis constants for the reactants of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex reaction are: 2-oxoglutarate, 0.220 mM; CoA, 0.025 mM; NAD+, 0.050 mM. Those of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex are: pyruvate, 0.015 mM; CoA, 0.021 mM; NAD+, 0.079 mM. Product inhibition studies showed that succinyl-CoA or acetyl-CoA was competitive with respect to CoA, and NADH was competitive with respect to NAD+ in both overall reactions, and that succinyl-CoA or acetyl-CoA and NADH were uncompetitive with respect to 2-oxoglutarate or pyruvate, respectively. However, noncompetitive (rather than uncompetitive) inhibition patterns were observed for succinyl-CoA or acetyl-CoA versus NAD+ and for NADH versus CoA. These results are consistent with the proposed mechanisms.


Photoreduction of cytochrome c1.

1. Ferricytochrome c1 solution was reduced completely between pH 7 and 10 by illumination under anaerobic conditions. Photoreduction was not affected by the ionic strength of the medium. However, it did not take place at pH lower than 6 or higher than 10, or in the presence of p-hydroxymercuric benzoate. The ferricyanide-reoxidized photoreduced c1 was not further reduced upon illumination. The reductant was most probably a specific sulfhydryl group in the subunit containing the heme of the cytochrome since this subunit contained one less p-HMB-titratable group in the photoreduced sample than in the untreated preparation. 2. The photoreduced cytochrome c1 showed the same spectra as the native cytochrome, and was not reactive with carbon monoxide. The equilibrium constant of the reaction c12+ + c3+ equilibrium c13+ + c2+ for the photoreduced c1 was found to be slightly lower (Keq = 2.6) than that for the native c1 (Keq = 3.5). The antimycin A-sensitive electron acceptor activity of ferricyanide-reoxidized photoreduced c13+ catalyzed by succinate-cytochrome c reductase was about 80% of that of the native c1. 3. A somewhat simplified method for isolation of cytochrome c1 was developed. Anaerobic ammonium sulfate fractionation and calcium phosphate gel chromatography were still used in order to achieve the purity level of about 25 nmol of heme/mg of protein. The cytochrome c1 prepared by this procedure showed the same properties tested as that by the beta-mercaptoethanol method (Yu, C.A., Yu, L., and King, T.E. (1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 1012-1019).


Amino acid sequence homology of mammalian type C RNA virus major internal proteins.

The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the major group-specific antigen, the major internal virion protein (p30; approximate molecular weight 30,000) of several mammalian type C RNA viruses was determined by the Edman degradation procedure using an automated protein sequenator. All of the proteins analyzed show a high degree of over-all sequence homology and also contain specific regions or single residues. All p30s begin with the sequence prolyl-leucylarginyl (Pro-Leu-Arg) and have an invariant, conserved region from residues 11 to 24. In this region only a single amino acid difference appears between the cat and mouse p30s. At position 17 alanine is found in the cat, and serine in all the mouse proteins. This homologous region starts at position 10 for RD-114 and baboon virus p30s, and at position 18 in the protein of the virus isolated from gibbon ape. The region extending from residue 4 to 10 shows considerable variability between p30s isolated from different mammalian species. Out of 24 residues compared, only a single amino acid difference was found between six different mouse p30s. At position 4, three have leucine, two have alanine, and one has serine. The comparative sequence data demonstrate that the viral p30s are products of related genes in the viruses from various mammalian species.


The purine nucleotide cycle. Control of phosphofructokinase and glycolytic oscillations in muscle extracts.

Linked oscillations of the glycolytic pathway and the purine nucleotide cycle were studied in particle-free extracts of rat skeletal muscle. Under the conditions used, an accumulation of about 1 muM fructose diphosphate can trigger a sudden increase in phosphofructokinase activity. The activation by fructose diphosphate depends on the presence of AMP. When the AMP concentration drops, phosphofructokinase becomes inhibited, even though the fructose disphosphate concentration remains high. It is concluded that the oscillatory behavior can be of advantage for maintaining a high average [ATP]/[ADP] ratio.


Purification and properties of the light-activated cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase of rod outer segments.

Frog (Rana catesbiana) rod outer segment disc membranes contain a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17) which is activated by light in the presence of ATP. This enzyme is firmly bound to the disc membrane, but can be eluted from the membrane with 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.4 and 2 mM EDTA. The eluted phosphodiesterase has reduced activity, but can be activated approximately 10-fold by polycations such as protamine and polylysine. The eluted phosphodiesterase can no longer be activated by light in the presence of ATP, that is, activation by light apparently depends on the native orientation of phosphodiesterase in relationship to other disc membrane components. The eluted phosphodiesterase was purified to homogeneity as judged by analytical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing. The over-all purification from intact retina was approximately 925-fold. The purification of phosphodiesterase from the isolated rod outer segment preparation was about 185-fold with a 28% yield. Phosphodiesterase accounts for approximately 0.5% of the disc membrane protein. The eluted phosphodiesterase (inactive form) has a sedimentation coefficient of 12.4 S corresponding to an approximate molecular weight of 240,000. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis separates the purified phosphodiesterase into two subunits of 120,000 and 110,000 daltons. With cyclic 3':5'-GMP (cGMP) as substrate the Km for the purified phosphodiesterase is 70 muM. Protamine increases the Vmax without changing the Km for cGMP. The isoelectric point (pI) of the native dimer is 5.7. Limited exposure of the eluted phosphodiesterase (inactive form) to trypsin produces a somewhat greater activation than is obtained with 0.5 mg/ml of protamine. The trypsin-activated phosphodiesterase has a sedimentation coefficient of 7.8 S corresponding to an approximate molecular weight of 170,000. The 110,000-dalton subunit is much less sensitive to trypsin hydrolysis and the 120,000-dalton subunit is rapidly replaced by smaller fragments. On the basis of the molecular weight of the purified phosphodiesterase (240,000) and the concentrations of phosphodiesterase and rhodopsin in the rod outer segment, it is estimated that the molar ratio ophosphodiesterase to rhodopsin in the rod outer segment is approximately 1:900. Since all of the disc phosphodiesterase molecules are activated when 0.1% of the rhodopsins are bleached, we conclude that in the presence of ATP 1 molecule of bleached rhodopsin can activate 1 molecule of phosphodiesterase.


Hormonal control of cyclic 3':5'-AMP levels and gluconeogenesis in isolated hepatocytes from fed rats.

Glucagon can stimulate gluconeogenesis from 2 mM lactate nearly 4-fold in isolated liver cells from fed rats; exogenous cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) is equally effective, but epinephrine can stimulate only 1.5-fold. Half-maximal effects are obtained with glucagon at 0.3 nM, cyclic AMP at 30 muM and epinephrine at 0.2 muM. Insulin reduces by 50% the stimulation by suboptimal concentrations of glucagon (0.5 nM). A half-maximal effect is obtained with 0.3 nM insulin (45 microunits/ml). Glucagon in the presence of theophylline (1 mM) causes a rapid rise and subsequent fall in intracellular cyclic AMP with a peak between 3 and 6 min. Some of the fall can be accounted for by loss of nucleotide into the medium. This efflux is suppressed by probenecid, suggesting the presence of a membrane transport mechanism for the cyclic nucleotide. Glucagon can raise intracellular cyclic AMP about 30-fold; a half-maximal effect is obtained with 1.5 nM hormone. Epinephrine (plus theophylline, 1 mM) can raise intracellular cyclic AMP about 2-fold; the peak elevation is reached in less than 1 min and declines during the next 15 min to near the basal level. Insulin (10 nM) does not lower the basal level of cyclic AMP within the hepatocyte, but suppresses by about 50% the rise in intracellular and total cyclic AMP caused by exposure to an intermediate concentration of glucagon. No inhibition of adenylate cyclase by insulin can be shown. Basal gluconeogenesis is not significantly depressed by calcium deficiency but stimulation by glucagon is reduced by 50%. Calcium deficiency does not reduce accumulation of cyclic AMP in response to glucagon but diminishes stimulation of gluconeogenesis by exogenous cyclic AMP. Glucagon has a rapid stimulatory effect on the flux of 45Ca2+ from medium to tissue.


Effect of denaturation on the susceptibility of proteins to enzymic phosphorylation.

Heat-denatured chicken egg white lysozyme and the reduced carboxymethylated maleylated derivative of this protein were found to serve as substrates for rabbit skeletal muscle cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The native form of the protein was not a substrate. Two phosphoryl groups per mole of lysozyme were incorporated in the reaction. It was determined that the phosphoryl moieties were bound to serine 24 and serine 50 in the modified protein. Serine 24 was phosphorylated approximately 3 times as fast as serine 50. Reduced carboxymethylated maleylated derivatives of bovine serum albumin, phosphorylase b, and creatine kinase also served as substrates for the protein kinase whereas their native forms did not. The reduced carboxymethylated maleylated derivative of the inhibitory subunit of troponin was a poorer substrate than the native form of the protein. Maleylated histones F1 and F2b were also poorer substrates than the nonderivatized forms. The significance of these experiments with reference to the specificity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase is discussed.


Studies of individual carbon sites of proteins in solution by natural abundance carbon 13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Relaxation behavior.

The aromatic regions in proton-decoupled natural abundance 13C Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (at 14.2 kG) of small native proteins contain broad methine carbon bands and narrow nonprotonated carbon resonances. Some factors that affect the use of natural abundance 13C Fourier transform NMR spectroscopy for monitoring individual nonprotonated aromatic carbon sites of native proteins in solution are discussed. The effect of protein size is evaluated by comparing the 13C NMR spectra of horse heart ferrocytochrome c, hen egg white lysozyme, horse carbon monoxide myoglobin, and human adult carbon monoxide hemoglobin. Numerous single carbon resonances are observed in the aromatic regions of 13C NMR spectra of cytochrome c, lysozyme, and myoglobin. The much larger hemoglobin yields few resolved individual carbon resonances. Theoretical and some experimental values are presented for the natural linewidths (W), spin-lattice relaxation times (T1), and nuclear Overhauser enhancements (NOE) of nonprotonated aromatic carbons and Czeta of arginine residues. In general, the 13C-1H dipolar mechanism dominates the relaxation of these carbons. 13C-14N dipolar relaxation contributes significantly to 1/T1 of C epsilon2 of tryptophan residues and Czeta of arginine residues of proteins in D2O. The NOE of each nonprotonated aromatic carbon is within experimental error of the calculated value of about 1.2. As a result, integrated intensities can be used for making a carbon count. Theoretical results are presented for the effect of internal rotation on W, T1, and the NOE. A comparison with the experimental T1 and NOE values indicates that if there is internal rotation of aromatic amino acid side chains, it is not fast relative to the over-all rotational motion of the protein.


Studies of individual carbon sites of proteins in solution by natural abundance carbon 13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Strategies for assignments.

Natural abundance 13C Fourier transform NMR spectra (at 15.18 MHz, in 20-mm sample tubes) of aqueous native proteins yield numerous narrow single carbon resonances of nonprotonated aromatic carbons. Techniques for the assignment of these resonances are presented. Each technique is applied to one or more of the following proteins: ferricytochrome c from horse heart and Candida krusei, ferrocytochrome c and cyanoferricytochrome c from horse heart, lysozyme from hen egg white, cyanoferrimyoglobins from horse and sperm whale skeletal muscle, and carbon monoxide myoglobin from horse. In all of the protein spectra we have examined, methine aromatic carbons give rise to broad bands. Studies of the narrow resonances of nonprotonated aromatic carbons of proteins are facilitated by removal of these broad bands by means of the convolution-difference method, preferably from spectra recorded under conditions of noise-modulated off-resonance proton decoupling. We present a summary of the chemical shift ranges for the various types of nonprotonated aromatic carbons of amino acid residues and hemes of diamagnetic proteins, based on our results for hen egg white lysozyme, horse heart ferrocytochrome c, horse carbon monoxide myoglobin, and carbon monoxide hemoglobins from various species...


Purification of cerebral glucose-6-phosphatase. An enzyme involved in sleep.

An insoluble phosphoprotein of rat brain acquires radioactivity from inorganic phosphate more rapidly during sleep than during wakefulness. It was purified in two ways. The first was solvent delipidation of brain tissue followed by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The second was sucrose gradient centrifugation of a brain homogenate to remove myelin, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and adsorption chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex in the presence of sodium deoxycholate. The products were homogeneous within the limits of the analytical methods used. The apparent molecular weight of the phosphoprotein was 28,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels, but was much higher in the presence of sodium deoxycholate. The protein had a high content of aspartic and glutamic acids compared to basic amino acids. Analysis of a base hydrolysate, as well as studies of the kinetics of hydrolysis, showed that the radioactive phosphorus was attached to histidine. The NH2-terminal residue was identified as isoleucine. The phosphoprotein purified by the second method was enzymatically active. When it was incubated in vitro with a 32P-labeled supernatant fraction from rat brain (and later with glucose [6-32P]phosphate), a radioactive phosphorylated protein intermediate was formed. Exploration of the several enzymatic activities of the preparation indicated close correspondence to those reported for the glucose-6-phosphatases of liver and kidney. Glucose-6-phosphatase activity was found in all parts of the brain in the membranous subcellular fractions of neurons. It was shown to be co-purified with the sleep-related phosphoprotein. This report constitutes, we believe, the first complete purification of glucose-6-phosphatase from any tissue and an instance in which a change in the state of a cerebral enzyme has been linked to a normal change in the physiological state of the brain.


Binding of selected iodothyronine analogues to receptor sites of isolated rat hepatic nuclei. High correlation between structural requirements for nuclear binding and biological activity.

The limited capacity, high affinity binding of 35 iodothyronine analogues by rat liver nuclei has been examined in an in vitro system. The in vitro nuclear binding of all the analogues tested was highly correlated with their published thyromimetic potencies in the intact animals. Binding and biological activity are greater for 3'-mono-than 3',5'-di-substituted iodothyronines. A 4'-hydroxyl group is essential, but the 3' substituent can be several halogen or non-halogen groups for which the distal conformation is preferred. The ether linkage can be replaced equally well by a methylene or sulfur group. The presence of both 3 and 5 groups which are limited to halogens or small alkyl groups are necessary for the maintenance of significant activity. Halogen-free iodothyronines have very low, but significant activity both in vitro and in vivo. The data provide information on the structural requirements for thyroid hormone action and further support the physiological relevance of the nuclear sites.


The mechanism of action of cholera toxin in pigeon erythrocyte lysates.

The adenylate cyclase activity of intact pigeon erythrocytes begins to rise after about 20 min of exposure to cholera toxin. The maximum rate at which the cyclase activity increases appears to be limited by the number of toxin molecules which can reach an intracellular target. If the erythrocytes are made permeable to the toxin by a bacterial hemolysin, no such limit exists, and adenylate cyclase activity starts to rise immediately upon the addition of toxin, and continues to rise to a maximum at an initially constant rate which is dependent upon the concentration of toxin. On lysed erythrocytes, the addition of cholera antitoxin immediately prevents any further rise in adenylate cyclase activity, but does not reverse any activation already achieved. Erythrocyte lysates may also be activated by isolated peptide A1 of cholera toxin, although activation of adenylate cyclase of intact erythrocytes requires the complete toxin molecule. In the intact cells, toxin first attaches by its Component B to surface receptors of which there are about 30 per erythrocyte. Subsequently, peptide A1 but not Component B is inserted into the erythrocyte. It takes only about 1 min at 37 degrees for peptide A1 to be sufficiently deep within the cell membrane to be inaccessible to extracellular antitoxin, but its complete transit through the membrane appears to take longer. The surface receptors are used only once, for they remain blocked by Component B. The number of receptors available on the surface may be increased by soaking cells in ganglioside GM1. Cholera toxin also decreases the rate of apparently spontaneous loss of adenylate cyclase activity and increases the response to epinephrine. Theophylline inhibits the action of cholera toxin.


Interaction of the estradiol receptor from calf uterus with its nuclear acceptor sites.

The specific interaction between 17 beta-estradiol-receptor complex and nuclear acceptors was analyzed by immobilizing various nuclear proteins to CNBr-activated agarose. The specific, high affinity sites identified in a fraction of basic proteins that can be solubilized from purified nuclei of calf uterus (Puca, G.A., Sica, V., and Nola. E (1974) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 71, 979-983) were chromatographed on Sephadex G-100 columns. Elution of the acceptor activity depends on the pH and ionic strength of the buffer used. With 5 mM HCl, however, a peak of acceptor activity with a molecular weight of about 70,000 was partially dissociated from the other basic nuclear proteins. The high affinity binding of the receptor to the acceptor proteins was estradiol-, but not progesterone-, cortisone-, or testosterone-dependent; it was very sensitive to ionic strength and showed a physiological pH optimum. Low affinity binding, such as that seen between receptor and histone, showed no estradiol dependence and little ionic strength and pH sensitivity. Native or heat-denatured DNA strongly modified the receptor-acceptor interaction, reducing the number of binding sites of acceptor for the receptor without changing the high affinity of the interaction. Heating of the acceptor protein before its covalent linkage to agarose considerably increased the affinity of the resulting agarose derivative. Free sulfhydryl groups of the receptor but not of the acceptor molecule play an important role in the acceptor-receptor interaction. When receptor and acceptor preparations were incubated in solution, the resulting complex was included on a Sephadex G-100 column and it eluted from DEAE-cellulose columns at lower ionic strength than the receptor alone. Even though not absolutely specific, these two properties allowed determination of the molecular weight (85,000) of the acceptor protein at neutral pH and more nearly physiological ionic strength. The apparent KD of the acceptor-receptor interaction was determined to be 2 x 10(-10) M at O degrees. Apparently similar, high affinity binding sites for estradiol receptors are also present in nuclei of other tissues.


Inhibition of basal and hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase in adipocyte ghosts by the prostaglandin endoperoxide prostaglandin H2.

The prostaglandin endoperoxide PGH2 (15-hydroxy-9alpha, 11alpha-peroxidoprosta-5,13-dienoic acid), at a concentration of 2.8 x 10(-5) M inhibited basal adenylate cyclase activity 11% and epinephrine-stimulated activity 30 to 35%. PGH2 inhibited epinephrine-stimulated enzyme activity in the presence of 10 mM theophylline, 2.5 mM adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP), or in the absence of inhibitors or substrates of the cAMP phosphodiesterase. When the cAMP phosphodiesterase was assayed directly using 62 nM and 1.1 muM cAMP, PGH2 did not affect the 100,000 x g particulate cAMP phosphodiesterase from fat cells. The inhibition of adenylate cyclase by PGH2 was readily reversible. A 6-min preincubation of ghost membranes with PGH2, followed by washing, did not alter subsequent epinephrine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. During epinephrine stimulation, the PGH2 inhibition was apparent on initial rates of cAMP synthesis, and the addition of PGH2 to the enzyme system at any point during an assay markedly reduced the rate of cAMP synthesis. Between 2.8 x 10(-7) M and 2.8 x 10(-5) M, PGH2 inhibited epinephrine-stimulated enzyme activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The stimulation of adenylate cyclase by thyroid-stimulating hormone, glucagon, and adrenocorticotropic hormone as well as by epinephrine was antagonized by PGH2, suggesting that PGH2 may be an endogenous feedback regulator of hormone-stimulated lipolysis in adipose tissue.


Synthesis and study of the estrogenic activity of 2,4-bis(bromomethyl)estradiol-17 beta 3-methyl ether.

Synthesis of 2,4-bis(bromomethyl)estradiol-17 beta 3-methyl ether (BBE2M) was accomplished by reducing a methanolic solution of 2,4-bis(bromomethyl)estrone methyl ether with sodium borohydride. In 0.5 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, 25 degrees, BBE2M readily reacts with Ellman's anion and alkylates cysteine to form a steroid-amino acid conjugate. Stoichiometry of the reaction indicates that the bromosteroid is divalent with cysteine. Tryptophan and histidine react more slowly with the bromosteroid. Estrogenic activity of BBE2M was evaluated in ovariectomized rats by uterine intraluminal administration and quantitation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-P:NADP+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49) activity in the uterus. BBE2M induced glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity as did estradiol-17 beta or estradiol-17 beta 3-methyl ether (E2M). BBE2M was more persistent in activity than E2M. Histological examination of uterus following BBE2M treatment shows classic estrogenic morphology. BBE2M covalently binds to the cytoplasmic estrogen receptor of calf uterus. Such binding is prevented by pretreatment of the receptor protein with estradiol-17 beta. The covalently bound steroid-receptor complex appears to stimulate RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei from calf endometrium.


Singlet oxygen production associated with enzyme-catalyzed lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes.

Evidence for the formation of singlet oxygen during the oxidation of NADPH by liver microsomes is presented. The evidence is based primarily on the enzyme-dependent formation of dibenzoylethylene from diphenylfuran, a reaction which is specific for singlet oxygen. The apparent formation of singlet oxygen is coupled to the occurrence of peroxidation of microsomal lipid, a phenomenon known to be associated with NADPH oxidation by the particles. Both the peroxidation of lipid and the apparent formation of singlet oxygen are related to the amount of Fe3+ present in the system and the results are consistent with the possibility that the singlet oxygen formed by this system is derived from the breakdown of lipid peroxides. If 1O2 is formed from breakdown of lipid peroxides, it would be dependent on O-/-2 formation because superoxide anion has been shown to undergo reactions in this system which generate extremely reactive free radicals (probably hydroxyl) that initiate lipid peroxidation. These peroxides are quite unstable and their degradation may be the source of 1O2. We have consistently observed that O-/-2 itself is not a reactive radical with respect to lipids or radical scavengers. Hence, O-/-2 cannot be the radical which initiates lipid peroxidation on which 1O2 generation appears to depend. The results may offer at least part of the explanation for the dietary requirement for alpha-tocopherol which not only scavenges free radicals but quenches singlet oxygen as well. This report also includes description of studies indicating that another enzyme, xanthine oxidase, which forms superoxide anion during its activity under aerobic conditions, does not form singlet oxygen during its function. This finding is in contrast to reports of others which indicate that xanthine oxidase activity does produce 1O2.


Thyrotropin receptors in thyroid plasma membranes. Characteristics of thyrotropin binding and solubilization of thyrotropin receptor activity by tryptic digestion.

Biologically active bovine 125I-thyrotropin preparations have been prepared, characterized, and used to evaluate the optimal conditions for thyrotropin binding to bovine thyroid plasma membranes in vitro. Binding of 125I-TSH has a pH optimum around 6.0 and is sensitive to the choice and concentration of buffer. Binding is inhibited by salts, especially those containing magnesium and calcium ions; magnesium concentrations optimal for adenylate cyclase assays (2 to 5 mM) result in 85 to 98% inhibition of binding. Binding is temperature sensitive. At 37 degrees binding has its highest initial level; however, instability of the membrane at this temperature causes a rapid loss of binding activity. Binding at 0 degrees is optimal in 30 min and at the same level as initial binding at 37 degrees; since there is no decrease in binding activity, it has been chosen as the optimal temperature. Thyrotropin, luteinizing hormone, the beta subunit of thyrotropin, and the alpha subunit of thyrotropin have relative binding affinities for the thyrotropin receptors of 100, 10, 2, and less than 0.5, respectively. In all of these characteristics, 125I-thyrotropin at 1.5 x 10(-5) M concentrations has the same properties of binding to bovine plasma membranes as do [3H]thyrotropin preparations which have been previously characterized (Amir, S.M., Carraway, T.F., Jr., Kohn, L.D., and Winand, R.V. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 4092-4100) and used to study binding at 5 x 10(-6) M concentrations. 125I-TSH binding as a function of hormone concentration results in curved Scatchard plots; however, Hill plots of these same binding data are linear and have a slope of 0.65. Taken together, these data suggest that the heterogeneity in thyrotropin binding constants which is evident in the Scatchard plot reflects a negatively cooperative relationship among the thyrotropin receptor sites, i.e. decreased hormonal affinity as hormone concentrations increase. Adenylate cyclase studies yield kinetic plots which also exhibit negative cooperativity; corrections for thyrotropin bound under the adverse binding conditions of the adenylate cyclase assays suggest that Km values for thyrotropin in this enzymatic assay are compatible with binding constants measured by the 125I-thyrotropin preparations. Tryptic digestion destroys binding activity on the thyroid plasma membrane but releases specific thyrotropin receptor activity into the supernatant phase. Chromatography on Sephadex G-100 indicates that this solubilized receptor fragment has a molecular weight between 15,000 and 30,000.


Characteristics of a solubilized thyrotropin receptor from bovine thyroid plasma membranes.

The thyrotropin receptor from bovine thyroid plasma membranes has been solubilized using lithium diiodosalicylate, and an assay to measure thyrotropin binding to the solubilized receptor has been developed. Both the solubilized thyrotropin receptor and the thyrotropin receptor on thyroid plasma membranes have effectively identical nonlinear Scatchard plots and negatively sloped Hill plots, i.e. both preparations have receptors which appear to exhibit a similar negatively cooperative relationship. Although the pH optimum of thyrotropin binding to the solubilized receptor is the same as that of the thyroid plasma membrane receptor, pH 6.0, the pH dependency curve of the solubilized receptor is slightly different in its outline. Thyrotropin binding to the solubilized receptor is less sensitive to salt inhibition than is binding to the thyroid plasma membrane receptor; however, optimal binding remains at 0 degrees. The relative affinities of thyrotropin and two glycoprotein hormones which can be considered structural analogs, luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin, are 100:10:5, respectively, toward plasma membrane receptors, but 100:25:40 toward the solubilized receptors. The solubilized receptor preparation is heterogeneous in size in that it has binding components with molecular weights of 286,000, 160,000, 75,000, and 15,000 to 30,000. Tryptic digestion converts all three higher molecular weight components to the 15,000 to 30,000 molecular weight species, and the 15,000 to 30,000 molecular weight receptor component has all of the binding properties of the solubilized receptor preparation before tryptic digestion including an identical nonlinear Scatchard plot. It has the same size as and coelutes from Sephadex G-100 with a 15,000 to 30,000 molecular weight receptor released by tryptic digestion of bovine thyroid plasma membranes or tryptic digestion of bovine or dog thyroid cells in culture. The tryptic fragment of the solubilized receptor or preparations has been purified almost 250-fold by affinity chromatography on thyrotropin-Sepharose columns. The binding activity is lost when the solubilized thyrotropin receptor preparation is exposed to beads of neuraminidase-Sepharose or conconavalin A-Sepharose.


Thyrotropin effects on thyroid cells in culture. Effects of trypsin on the thyrotropin receptor and on thyrotropin-mediated cyclic 3':5'-AMP changes.

Dog, human, and bovine thyroid cells in culture have been shown to develop follicle-like structures when cells are cultured in conditions of confluency and when cells are incubated in the presence of bovine thyrotropin or N6,O2'-dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate during the first 24 to 48 hours after trypsinization. If thyrotropin is added 48 hours after trypsinization, these cells do not form follicle-like structures but remain as a monolayer culture. Although thyroid cells which grow as a monolayer have a thyrotropin receptor on their plasma membranes with the same in vitro binding properties as the thyrotropin receptor on the plasma membranes of the follicle-forming thyroid cells, there is a 1- to 2-fold greater number of receptors per mg of membrane protein when follicle-forming and monolayer cultures are compared...


Functional arginine residues involved in coenzyme binding by glutamate dehydrogenases.

Reaction of the NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase of Neurospora with 1,2-cyclohexanedione results in a biphasic loss of enzyme activity. At the end of the rapid phase of the reaction (t1/2 = 1.5 min) the enzyme activity is diminished by approximately 60% with the simultaneous loss of 1 residue of arginine per subunit. After 60 min, the enzyme activity is completely lost with the modification of a total of 2 arginine residues per subunit. Reaction of bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase with cyclohexanedione causes a rapid loss of approximately 45% of the enzyme activity and modification of about 1.5 residues of arginine per subunit. More prolonged treatment results in reaction of an additional 4 residues of arginine per subunit but is without further effect on the residual activity. The activity of the Neurospora enzyme is not protected by substrate, coenzyme, or a combination of both; however, the activity of the bovine enzyme is partially protected by high levels of NAD or NADP. Although the Km for alpha-ketoglutarate is unchanged by a limited modification of either enzyme with cyclohexanedione, the Km for coenzyme is increased about 2-fold for the Neurospora enzyme and about 1.5-fold for the bovine enzyme. The Ki of the Neurospora dehydrogenase for the competitive inhibitor 2'-monophosphoadenosine-5'-diphosphoribose is unchanged by the enzyme modification, but nicotinamide mononucleotide, a competitive inhibitor for the native Neurospora enzyme, does not inhibit the glutamate dehydrogenase with 1 modified arginine residue. This finding implies that the modified arginine is at or near the nicotinamide binding iste of the enzyme.


Free fatty acids as feedback regulators of adenylate cyclase and cyclic 3':5'-AMP accumulation in rat fat cells.

Rat fat cells incubated with lipolytic agents released substances to the medium which acted as feedback regulators of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) accumulation. The feedback regulators were not removed by adenosine deaminase. Dialyzed medium that had previously been incubated with fat cells in the presence of norepinephrine markedly inhibited cyclic AMP accumulation by fresh cells, whereas dialyzed medium from control cells did not inhibit cyclic AMP accumulation. The effects of lipolytic agents could be mimicked by adding dialyzed medium previously incubated with fat cells in the presence of oleic acid. This suggested that free fatty acids were the nondialyzable and adenosine deaminase-insensitive inhibitors of cyclic AMP accumulation released to the medium by fat cells incubated with lipolytic agents. The regulatory function of free fatty acids was related to the molar ratio of fatty acid to albumin. Profound inhibition of both lipolysis and cyclic AMP accumulation was seen as the free fatty acid/albumin ratio exceeded 3. The inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation by oleate was seen as soon as there was a detectable increase in cyclic AMP due to lipolytic agents. Protein kinase activity (in the presence of cyclic AMP) of the infranatant obtained after centrifugation of fat cell homogenates at 48,000 x g was inhibited by medium from cells incubated with lipolytic agents or added oleate. Adenylate cyclase activity of rat fat cell ghosts was also inhibited by dialyzed or nondialyzed medium that previously had been incubated with lipolytic agents or added fatty acids. The direct addition of oleate markedly inhibited adenylate cyclase activity as the free fatty acid/albumin ratio exceeded 2. These data suggest that the prolonged drop in cyclic AMP accumulation seen during the incubation of rat fat cells with lipolytic agents is due to the inhibition of adenylate cyclase. This occurs when the free fatty acid/albumin ratio exceeds 3.


Lack of feedback regulation of cyclic 3':5'-AMP accumulation by free fatty acids in chicken fat cells.

Fat cells isolated from the mesenteric adipose tissue of chickens (pullets) responded to glucagon with an increase in lipolysis and a sustained rise in cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) over a 30-min incubation. The prolonged accumulation of cyclic AMP due to glucagon in chicken fat cells was primarily intracellular. In addition, there was little increase in cyclic AMP accumulation due to theophylline alone or potentiation of the increase due to glucagon. These data indicate that chicken fat cells, unlike rat fat cells, are relatively insensitive to theophylline. Neither lipolysis nor cyclic AMP accumulation by chicken fat cells was inhibited by free fatty acid to albumin ratios (3 to 7) which markedly reduced both events in rat fat cells. However, in the absence of albumin from the medium, lipolysis in chicken fat cells was reduced, but not to the same extent as in rat fat cells. Chicken fat cells did accumulate more intracellular free fatty acids in response to lipolytic agents than did rat fat cells. The uptake of oleate by rat and chicken fat cells was identical. Glucagon-induced accumulation of cyclic AMP by chicken fat cell ghosts was unaffected by added oleate. Under identical conditions glucagon-induced adenylate cyclase activity of rat fat cell ghosts was markedly inhibited by added oleate. Triglyceride lipase activity of the pH 5.2 precipitate from a 40,000 x g infranatant of homogenized fat cells from chickens was less sensitive than that from rat fat cells to the ratio of oleate to albumin. These results suggest that the maintenance of cyclic AMP levels in chicken fat cells incubated with lipolytic agents results from the relative insensitivity of chicken fat cells to free fatty acid inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation.


Purification of tryptophan transfer RNA from chick cells and its identity with "spot 1" RNA of Rous sarcoma virus.

Tryptophan transfer RNA from chick cells chromatographs differently in the reversed-phase column chromatographic system 5 depending upon whether it is aminoacylated or not. This property was utilized to prepare pure tryptophan tRNA. Oligonucleotide fingerprints of tryptophan tRNA purified in this manner are identical with those reported for "spot 1" RNA isolated from Rous sarcoma virus.


A study of the binding of Mn2+ to bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I and to deoxyribonucleic acid by electron paramagnetic resonance.

EPR studies of Mn2+ binding to bovine pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I show that the enzyme can bind three Mn2+ ions at pH 7.5 and 2 degrees. Two sites bind Mn2+ strongly, with a Kd of 10(-4)M, and the third binds Mn2+ weakly, with a Kd of 10(-3)M. Ca2+ competes with the two strong sites, whereas Mg2+ competes only with one of them, indicating that both sites are not equivalent. Mn2+ binding to DNA has been confirmed by EPR measurements. Two types of sites, with different affinities for Mn2+ binding, were found on DNA molecules, one with a Kd of 1.2 times 10(-4)M and the other with a Kd of 10(-3)M. Mg2+ ions can displace Mn2+ from the high affinity sites, but not from the low affinity sites. These results suggest the Mn2+ binds not only to the phosphate groups, but also to the electron donor groups of the base rings.


Interaction of L-alpha-palmitoyl lysophosphatidylcholine with the AI polypeptide of high density lipoprotein.

The AI polypeptide chain from human high density serum lipoprotein has two accessible conformational states in aqueous solution. L-alpha-Palmitoyl lysophosphatidylcholine induces the transition between these two states at an equilibrium concentration of ligand of 2 X 10(-5)M, and the protein has a maximum binding capacity of 95 to 100 mol of lipid/mol of protein. The present study, together with previous investigations in this laboratory, suggests that the conformational state of AI in the presence of high levels of bound amphiphiles is similar to the in vivo state, and further, that this complex does not result from the insertion of AI into amphiphilic micelles. The mode of interaction of AI with amphiphilic ligands is shown to be significantly different from that of membrane proteins thus far investigated.


Pulmonary angiotensin-converting enzyme. Structural and catalytic properties.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme has been solubilized from a particulate fraction of rabbit lung and purified to apparent homogeneity in 11% yield by a procedure including fractionation with DEAE-cellulose and calcium phosphate gel, elution from Sephadex G-200, and lectin affinity chromatography. The molecular weight estimated by equilibrium sedimentation was approximately 129,000, either in the absence or presence of 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. A slightly higher value of 140,000 determined for the reduced, denatured protein by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and a much higher figure derived from gel filtration are probably due to the glycoprotein nature of the enzyme. Its oligosaccharide content accounted for 26% of the weight calculated from its amino acid and carbohydrate composition. The estimated content of sugar residues per mole was: galactose, 57; N-acetylglucosamine, 53; mannose, 43; N-acetylneuraminic acid, 19; and fucose, 4. Threonine and alanine were identified, respectively, as NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal residues by the dansylation procedure and by digestion with carboxypeptidase A. The enzyme was found to contain approximately 1 g atom of zinc per mol. Km values for hydrolysis of hippurylhistidylleucine and angiotensin I were 2.3 and 0.07 mM, and the corresponding turnover numbers were 15,430 and 792 mol/min/mol at 37 degrees. Bradykinin was also a substrate, and release of its COOH-terminal dipeptide, Phe-Arg, was catalyzed at a comparable rate to that of His-Leu from the COOH terminus of angiotensin I. Enzyme activity required the presence of chloride ions and was inhibited by EDTA and by low concentrations of Bothrops bradykinin-potentiating peptides. In addition, hydrolysis of hippurylhistidylleucine was inhibited competitively by other defined peptides, including di- and tripeptides, which were not substrates.


Isolation and characterization of cytidine diphosphate diglyceride from beef liver.

Cytidine diphosphate diglyceride was isolated from beef liver by a combination of silicic acid column, DEAE-cellulose column, and this layer chromatography. The product (5.8 to 17.4 mumol/kg of liver) contained cytidine/phosphate/fatty acids in the molar proportions 1.05/2.0/2.05 (theoretical, 1.0/2.0/2.0) (average for three preparations). The liponucleotide was split quantitatively by a partially purified hydrolase from Escherichia coli, specific for CDP-diglyceride, (Raetz, C. R. H., Hirschberg, C. B., Dowhan, W., Wickner, W. T., and Kennedy, E. P. (1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 2245-2247) into phosphatidic acid and a water-soluble nucleotide that was chromatographically identical with CMP. No dCMP was located in these hydrolysates. The liver liponucleotide was more effective than a synthetic preparation of CDP-diglyceride in promoting the formation of phosphatidylinositol with guinea pig brain microsomes. The fatty acid composition of CDP-diglyceride was compared with metabolically related phospholipids from beef liver. The liponucleotide had a similar composition to phosphatidylinositol, characterized by a high level of stearate and with arachidonate as the major unsaturated fatty acid. The content of arachidonate in both lipids was significantly higher than that in phosphatidic acid. The profile of fatty acids of cardiolipin was quite unlike that of CDP-diglyceride. These findings suggest several alternatives for the metabolic origins of beef liver CDP-diglyceride: (a) CDP-diglyceride is formed from an atypical pool of phosphatidic acid, (b) the enzyme is selective for arachidonoyl-containing species of phosphatidic acid, (c) the liponucleotide may also be derived from phosphatidylinositol by the back-reaction of CDP-diglyceride: inositol phosphatidyltransferase.


Human phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase. Comparison of purified normal and mutant enzymes.

Human phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase has been purified 4500-fold to electrophoretic homogeneity from the erythrocytes of normal individuals and of two brothers in whom excessive activity of this enzyme results in excessive rated of purine nucleotide and uric acid synthesis de novo and gouty arthritis. Structural differences between the normal and mutant enzymes are indicated by a lower isoelectric point for the mutant enzyme (pI 4.85) than for the normal enzyme (pI 5.10); decreased electrophoretic mobility of the mutant preparation on cellulose acetate gel at low inorganic phosphate concentrations; increased (2.4-fold) inactivation of the mutant enzyme activity relative to the normal by identical amounts of a specific antiserum which precipitates identical quantities of normal and mutant enzyme; increased thermal lability of the mutant enzyme at 55 degrees; and an increased (2.2-fold) specific enzyme activity for the mutant enzyme despite the comparable purity of the preparations. Antibody inactivation, quantitative precipitin, and immunodiffusion studies as well as the disparity in specific enzyme activities during the course of purification suggest that a structural alteration in the mutant enzyme leads to increased catalytic activity per enzyme molecule, either from a primary alteration in the structural gene(s) for phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase or from a post-transcriptional alteration in the enzyme. Purified preparations of normal and mutant enzymes showed nearly identical affinity constants for magnesium and the substrates, ATP and ribose 5-phosphate, as well as similar inhibition constants for the products, PP-ribose-P and AMP, and the inhibitors ADP, GDP, and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. An increased maximal velocity of the reaction was, thus, the sole kinetic difference identified. The increased velocity of the mutant enzyme reaction was constant over a range of inorganic phosphate concentrations from 0.1 to 100 mM. Subunit molecular weights of the enzyme preparations, estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis, were identical (32,000), although the undenatured mutant enzyme showed a greater proportion of stainable protein in the smaller of two molecular weight forms (both greater than 500,000) of the enzyme demonstrated on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 1 mM sodium phosphate.


Reversibility of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase reactions.

Using a homogeneous enzyme from rabbit skeletal muscle, it has been demonstrated that the cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase reaction is reversible. In addition to the phosphorylated protein substrate, the reverse reaction requires Mg2+, ADP, and cyclic AMP when the holoenzyme is used as the source of enzyme. It is independent of cyclic AMP when the catalytic subunit of the protein kinase is used. The optimum pH for the reverse reaction with 32P-labeled casein as the substrate is 5.7, essentially the same as that for the forward reaction. Among the nucleotide subtrates tested, ADP serves as the best phosphoryl group acceptor. The Km of the enzyme for ADP is 3.3 mM and that for 32P-casein is 1.7 mg/ml. The equilibrium constant at 30 degrees is approximately 0.042 at a magnesium concentration of 10 mM and a pH of 6.9. This result indicates that the free energy of hydrolysis (deltaG0obs) of the phosphorylated protein substrate is relatively high, i.e. approximately -6.5 kcal/mol under these conditions.


Interaction of a chick skin collagen fragment (alpha1-CB5) with human platelets. Biochemical studies during the aggregation and release reaction.

The denatured alpha1(I) chain and the cyanogen bromide peptide, alpha1(I)-CB5, of chick skin collagen cause the release of serotonin and leakage of lactic dehydrogenase from human platelets in a manner similar to the release reaction mediated by adenosine diphosphate and native collagen. These peptides also cause a decrease in the level of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in platelets. Adenylate cyclase activity of platelets is partially inhibited by these peptides as well as by native collagen, ADP, and epinephrine, but cAMP phosphodiesterase activity is unaltered by these substances. In contrast, the level of platelet guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cGMP) is increased by the collagen peptides as well as the other aggregating agents. The increase is associated with increased guanylate cyclase, but normal cGMP phosphodiesterase activities of platelets. Optical rotatory and viscometric measurements of the alpha1 chains and alpha1-CB5 of chick skin in 0.01 M phosphate/0.15 M sodium chloride, pH 7.4, at various temperatures as a function of time indicate that no detectable renaturation occurs at 37 degrees for at least 30 min of observation. Molecular sieve chromatography of alpha1-CB5 in the phosphate buffer at 37 degrees shows that its elution position is identical to that performed under denaturing conditions (at 45 degrees) with no evidence of higher molecular weight aggregates, and the alpha1-CB5 glycopeptide fraction eluting from the column at the position of its monomer retains the platelet aggregating activity. Additionally, electron microscopic examination of the platelet-rich plasma that had been reacted with these peptides fail to show any ordered collagen structures. These data indicate that the denatured alpha1 chain and alpha1-CB5 glycopeptide of chick skin collagen mediate platelet aggregation through the "physiologic" release reaction in a manner similar to that induced by other aggregating agents such as ADP, epinephrine, or native collagen, and support the conclusion that the aggregating activity of the alpha1 chain and alpha1-CB5 is not likely to be due to the formation of polymerized products.


The carboxylic acid groups of bovine luteinizing hormone. The effects of their modification on receptor site binding and subunit-subunit interaction.

The modification of the carboxyl groups of the subunits of bovine luteinizing hormone to neutral derivatives by carbodiimide-mediated coupling with glycine methyl ester has been studied. The modified alpha subunit, which has 8 residues of glycine methyl ester incorporated, will no longer recombine with native beta (hormone-specific) subunit, but the modified beta subunit, with 6 to 7 glycine methyl esters incorporated, will recombine with native alpha to yield a partially active hormone. Derivatization of the intact hormone results in dissociation to subunits together with formation of a major side product which is covalently cross-linked. Significant cross-linked product was not obtained during modification of individual subunits, thus indicating an orientation between an activated carboxyl group(s) and a nucleophile(s) in the intact hormone which favors coupling. Separation of subunits from the derivatized, noncross-linked fraction by countercurrent distribution reveals a heterogeneous preparation of the modified alpha subunit which also will not recombine with either a native or modified beta subunit. The beta subunit from the modified intact hormone was indistinguishable from the modified isolated beta subunit in amino acid composition and in ability to recombine with native alpha subunit. The results are consonant with data from this and other laboratories in which various modifications of the alpha chain, the subunit common to the glycoproteins, more seriously affect recombination than similar modifications of the beta subunits. The number of carboxyl groups modified in each subunit is compatible with but not in total agreement with assignments of amides reported from sequence studies.


Site of synthesis of membrane and nonmembrane proteins of vesicular stomatitis virus.

Upon infection of Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), vesicular stomatitis (VSV) virus synthesizes two membrane proteins (the VSV glycoprotein and the VSV matrix or membrane (M) protein) and three nonmembrane proteins (the VSV nucleocapsid, the viral transcriptase, and an NS protein). We have used the VSV-infected cell as a model system for the study of the site of synthesis of these membrane and nonmembrane proteins. We have isolated VSV mRNA from free polyribosomes, membrane-bound polyribosomes, and the postribosomal supernatant, and identified the individual species of VSV mRNA present in each fraction. The mRNA which encodes the VSV glycoprotein is found exclusively on membrane-bound polyribosomes, while the mRNAs which encode the VSV, M, N, and NS proteins are found in free polyribosomes, in the membrane fraction of the cell, and in the postribosomal supernatant. Our results suggest that the VSV glycoprotein is synthesized exclusively on membrane polyribosomes, while at least some of the M, N, and NS proteins are made on free polyribosomes.